I will be compensated a certain amount of money if on getting home I discover that:
(1) It’s not a cat that is in the sack. A third party approved by the seller will escort me home or be around at 12 midnight to verify the contents of the sack;
(2) The cat is not hail and healthy – very sick, deaf, dumb, blind, invalid, e.t.c.
(3) If after a stated period of time, promised by the seller, the cat does not bring me the expected peace, happiness and prosperity into my life.
(4) If the cat does not live up to the age or time promised me by the seller despite the fact that he is well taken care of by me;
(5) If the total amount of happiness, peace and/or prosperity is lesser than the amount the seller promised me;
(6) If the cat runs away – but not stolen;
(7) If a third turns up and lays claim to the cat.
Thus, before even considering entering into any deal at all with Yaradua and/or the federal government, what the indigenes of the region need to do first is to get comprehensive information about the mineral resources on their territories. This should be the point of departure. This information will not only empower them to take better decisions and access the quality of any proposals from Yar’Adua or any other president.
In addition, with such information at their disposal, it will be very easy for them to calculate the percentage of the revenues that actually go into the development of the N.D. compared to the total revenues that the federal government makes from their mineral resources. This information will as well give the indigenes the necessary tools needed to ensure that they get the maximum benefits from their mineral resources. Without this information, the northern led federal government, foreign oil companies, Britain, the United States and other western countries will continue exploiting them and taking them for a ride till the Kingdom of God comes.
Therefore, my advise to the indigenes of the N.D. is to first press Yaradua directly, if he actually knows, or/and his new information minister, Prof. Akunyili – she is obliged, to provide them with the following information:
OPEN QUESTIONS TO YARADUA AND THE INFORMATION MINISTER, PROF. AKUNYILI ON NIGERIA’S OIL AND GAS. (RECOMMENDED FOR PUBLICATION IN ALL NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS)
(1) The complete list of all companies – including Nigerian companies and their owners, year of commencement of operations, amount of oil blocks owned, e.t.c. – directly involved in oil, gas and other mineral resources businesses in the Niger Delta.
(2) Terms of agreements of these companies with the federal government of Nigeria – including value of contracts and the percentage owned by these companies and the federal government.
(3) How and when did these companies win their contracts? What criteria were used? Were the necessary/stipulated procedures strictly observed in awarding contracts?
(4) What is the justification of the federal government in awarding contracts to foreign companies? Where is its sense of patriotism?
(5) The list of all companies: insurance, accounting, auditing, transportation, supply, exporting, technical maintenance, e.t.c. – including Nigerian companies and their owners, year of commencement of operation, value of contracts, e.t.c. – that are indirectly involved in the oil, gas and other mineral resources businesses in the region.
(6) Which companies do they render their services to?
(7) How did these companies win their contracts? What criteria were used?
(8) How much oil – in terms of quantity and revenues – have been lifted in the N.D. since the discovery of oil?
(9) How much oil – quantity and revenues – has been lifted since 1999, when Obasanjo came to power, till date?
(10) Detailed financial report, including the taxation system used, of all oil transactions conducted by foreign oil companies – preferrably since oil was discovered – or at least since 1999, when Obasanjo came to power, till date.
(11) Detailed financial report of N.N.P.C. – preferrably since oil was discovered – or at least since 1999 till date.
(12) Which companies audit the accounts of foreign oil companies and N.N.P.C.?
(13) What percentage of Nigerian/ N.D. companies compared to foreign companies are involved in Nigeria’s oil and gas business in the N.D.?
(14) What percentage of Nigerian/N.D. insurance companies compared to foreign insurance companies are involved in oil and gas business in the N.D.?
(15) What percentage of Nigerian/N.D. accounting/auditing firms compared to the total number are involved in the oil and gas business in the N.D.?
(16) What is the percentage of the revenues of all Nigerian/N.D. companies compared to foreign companies in the overall oil and gas transactions in the N.D.?
(17) What is the percentage of N.D. companies – i.e. owned by indigenes of the N.D. – including revenues, compared to Nigerian companies involved in the oil and gas business in the region?
(18) What is the percentage of N.D. insurance companies – i.e. owned by indigenes of the N.D. – including revenues, compared to all Nigerian companies in the region?
(19) What is the percentage of N.D. accounting/auditing firms including revenues, to all Nigerian accounting/auditing firms in the region?
(20) What is the percentage of northerners: retired and serving military/police/SSS officers, politicians, emirs, e.t.c. compared to the total number of other Nigerians have oil blocks in the region?
(21) How were the allocations made? What criteria were used? How did they win these oil blocks?
(22) What percentage of the indigenes of the N.D. compared to the total number of Nigerians have oil blocks in the region?
(23) What percentage of Nigerians, compared to the total or foreigners, are employed by foreign companies involved in oil and gas business in the region?
(24) What percentage of Nigerians, compared to the total or foreigners, are employed in senior management, middle management, engineering, maintenance and other positions,?
(25) What percentage of the indigenes of the N.D. compared to the total or number of foreigners are employed by foreign oil companies involved in oil and gas business in the region?
(26) What percentage of the indigenes of the N.D. compared to the total number of Nigerians, are employed by foreign companies in senior management, middle management, engineering, maintenance and other positions?
(27) What percentage of Nigerians are employed by the N.N.P.C.?
(28) What percentage of Nigerians are employed by the NNPC in senior, middle management positions, engineering, maintenance and other positions?
(29) What percentage of southern Nigerians, compared to northerners are employed by N.N.P.C? What criteria were used?
(30) What percentage of the indigenes of the N.D. compared to other Nigerians are employed by the N.N.P.C.?
(31) What percentage of the indigenes of the N.D. compared to the total number of Nigerians, are employed in senior, middle management positions, engineering, maintenance, and other positions?
(32) Can it be proved that there are no Nigerians – inside or outside the country – who are capable of doing the jobs that foreigners are employed to do at the time of their employment till date?
(33) If there are, then why does the federal government tolerate a situation whereby companies – both foreign and Nigerian – recruit foreigners for jobs that Nigerians are more than capable of doing – and even cheaper, despite the very high unemployment rate in the country?
(34)Does the federal government or/and NNPC have any law – like many developed countries – that prohibits foreign and Nigerian companies, including NNPC – from recruiting foreigners for jobs that Nigerians, inside or outside the country, are more than capable of doing – and even
cheaper?
(35) If no, why doesn’t such a law exist?
(36) If yes, when was it introduced?
(37) Does a body or committee, specially set up by the government, to enforce this rule exist?
(38) If no, why doesn’t it exist?
(39) If yes, how effective is this body in ensuring that this law is observed to the last letter by all companies without any exception? For example, in a situation whereby foreigners are recruited by any company, does the government compel such a company to provide evidence that proves beyond any reasonable doubts that it indeed did everything possible and impossible within its capability (placement of numerous advertisements of vacancies in Nigerian and foreign media for a long period of time, outsourcing of vacancies to Nigerian based recruiting agencies e.t.c.) to find a worthy or qualified Nigerian who could handle the post, but unfortunately could not find any?
(40) Does any penalty exist for companies that violate this law?
(41) If no, why doesn’t it exist? If yes, what kind of penalty?
(42) If yes, how many and which companies have been penalised for violating this law? How and when were they penalised?
(43) Does the federal government and/or NNPC have any law that prohibits foreign and Nigerian companies, including NNPC itself, from awarding contracts, consulting services, e.t.c. that could be performed by Nigerian companies, and even cheaper, to foreign companies?
(44) If no, why doesn’t such a law exist?
(45) If yes, when was it introduced?
(46) Does a body or committee, specially set up by the government, to enforce this law exist?
(47) If no, why doesn’t it exist?
(48) If yes, how effective is this body in ensuring that this law is observed to the last letter by all companies without any exception? For example, in a situation whereby contracts are awarded to foreign companies by any company, does the government compel such a company, including NNPC itself, to provide evidence that proves beyond any reasonable doubts that it indeed did everything possible and impossible within its capability (placement of numerous advertisements in Nigerian and foreign media for a long period of time calling for bids) to find a worthy or qualified Nigerian company who could handle the contract, but unfortunately could not find any?
(49) Does the committee or body consist of highly qualified Nigerian technical experts to verify such evidence?
(50) Why doesn’t it exist?
(51) Does any penalty exist for companies that violate this law?
(52) If no, why doesn’t it exist?
(53) If yes, what kind of penalty exist?
(54) which companies have been penalised so far for violating this law? When and how were they penalised?
(54) Does the federal government or/and NNPC have any policy and program – like many developed countries – of replacing foreign workers at all levels, consultants – who were employed after it has successfully been proved beyond any reasonable doubts that there are no Nigerians on earth capable of doing these jobs – with Nigerians within a specified or shortest period possible?
