Marginal Fields controversy: FG sacks six DPR directors

Following transparency controversy of bid round for 57 Marginal Fields concluded recently, there was a major shake up at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) which resulted in the sack of all deputy directors.

Insider sources revealed that the sack of the directors was initiated following grumbling that the selection of winners and matching of companies were done exclusively by the Director Engr. Sarki Auwalu.

Nigerian NewsDirect had reported bickering among officials of the Petroleum Ministry and the DPR. Contrary to the global oil industry practice of public opening of bids, the current management chose to send emails to selected winners with a directive to pay a proportion of the signature bonus to the Treasury Single Account ( TSA) of the Federal Government.

While winners expressed fear over litigation that will come up with matching of winners, the Minister of State for Petroleum Chief Timpre Sylva announced that 50 per cent of the marginal field winners had paid for signature bonus.

Industry source said the sudden sack was considered as a choice to ensure firm grip of the DPR since most of the Deputy Directors are senior to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He added that some of them had participated in previous bid rounds conducted by the department and have more experience.

Efforts made to get reaction from the Head Public Affairs Unit, Mr Paul Osu proved abortive. No response to text message and phone calls.

The affected deputy directors include Head, Corporate Services, Mr. Isah Tafidah; Head, Engineering and Standard, Engineer Akann Musa; Head, Downstream Monitoring and Regulation, Mr.Mohammed Alaku; and Head, Upstream Monitoring and regulation, Mr. Enorense Amadasu.

Others are Head, Safety, Health and Environment, Mr. Olusanya Bajomo; Head,Planning, Mr. Johnson Ajewole; and Head, Gas Monitoring and Regulation, Mr. Musa Zagi.

Those promoted as replacement include Mallam Ciroma who is replacing Mr. Isa Tafida as Head, Corporate Services; Akann Musa who is also named as Head, Engineering and Standard, the position he has held before now; Mr. Sadiq Bashir who is replacing Mr. Mohammed Alaku as Head, Downstream Monitoring and Regulation; and Mr. Garba Salihu new Head, Upstream Monitoring and regulation, and a replacement for Mr. Enorense Amadasu.

Others are Mr. Balogun A.A, a replacement for Olisanya Bajomo as Head, Safety, Health and Environment; Mr.Babajide Fasina, new Head, Planning, and a replacement for Mr. Johnson Ajewole; and Mr. I.Y Abubakar, new Head, Gas Monitoring and Regulation, and a replacement for Mr. Musa Zagi.