The Integrity Youth Alliance has said that the listing of Engr. Ahmed Dikko in a report by Punch Newspaper is mischievous and an attempt to tarnish his transparent and meritorious service at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).
Reacting to the report in Punch Newspaper titled “$3bn refinery fraud: N80bn found in sacked MD’s bank accounts,” the National Coordinator of the Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga, said that it was on record that Engr. Ahmed Dikko operated the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) under the Transparency, Accountability, and Performance Excellence Agenda.
“It would be recalled that the Federal Government, under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had in March 2021 secured a 1.5 billion dollar loan to rehabilitate the facility. The contract was awarded to an Italian firm, Tecnimont S.P.A., a subsidiary of Maire Tecnimont Group.
“Engr. Ahmed Dikko, as Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), has little to do with the contract award, as the Federal Government awarded the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, and it covers the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation, and Commissioning (EPCIC) of the refinery.
“He had pushed the rehabilitation to over 65% completion before he was further given the responsibility to advise the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited on refinery rehabilitation.
“It is on record that Dikko’s greatest goal and accomplishment was bringing back the nation’s refineries to life as soon as possible.
“One of Dikko’s achievements is the completion and commissioning of the 60,000-barrel-old refinery in November last year, after over 25 years of non-operation. The refinery is still operational. Work on the new 150,000-barrel refinery is well advanced and nearly complete. The loan for the project was $1billion from Afrixem Bank
“His transparency and accountability as the Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) earned him commendations, recognitions and awards.
“We therefore condemned listing his names among the officials the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating for abuse of office and misappropriation of funds, Adegbenga said.
