By Jonathan Lois
An indigenous oil and gas services company, Petroquip Nigeria Limited, has petitioned the House of Representatives, accusing multinational engineering giant Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited of systemic oppression, financial exploitation, and blatant disregard for Nigerian laws.
The petition, presented to the House by Hon. Barr. Okey Joe and addressed to the Speaker of the House, seeks urgent legislative intervention to resolve what Petroquip describes as a case of “grave injustice, economic sabotage, and corporate impunity.”
In the detailed complaint, Petroquip alleged that Saipem has refused to pay a long-standing debt of over $3.5 million following a dredging and trenching subcontract awarded in 2008. According to the company, the project was valued at approximately $18 million, and Petroquip met all contractual obligations, including multiple mobilizations and demobilizations of marine assets and technical personnel. These operations, it said, were carried out at substantial cost, with the company borrowing heavily from Nigerian banks to execute the contract.
Despite fulfilling its part of the agreement, Petroquip claims that Saipem has failed to settle the outstanding payments, a situation that has led to the collapse of its operations, massive job losses, and financial enforcement actions from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
“This is not merely a business disagreement—it is a clear case of exploitation of a Nigerian company by a foreign firm, facilitated by institutional inaction,” the petition reads.
The company further accused a former subcontract manager at Saipem, Mr. Alessandro D’Agati, of soliciting informal payments totaling $400,000, allegedly threatening to terminate Petroquip’s engagement upon refusal. The company said its refusal to comply with these demands led to the unjust frustration and eventual termination of its contract.
Petroquip disclosed that it reported the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which carried out an investigation and reportedly found Saipem liable for the unpaid debt. While some Saipem executives were allegedly detained during the investigation, the company says no meaningful action has since been taken.
“Despite overwhelming evidence and a clear finding by the EFCC that the claims were legitimate, the Commission has stalled for years, claiming that the matter is still under review by its legal department,” the petition stated.
The petition calls on the House to convene a public hearing through the Committee on Public Petitions to investigate the allegations; direct Saipem to pay the outstanding $3.5 million debt; investigate the EFCC’s inaction and delayed response to its own findings; and develop legislative safeguards to protect indigenous companies from foreign exploitation and systemic bullying.
Petroquip emphasized that the dispute, left unresolved, undermines Nigeria’s local content policy and discourages indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector.
The petition was accompanied by a compilation of contracts, correspondence, EFCC filings, and other supporting documents. The company also expressed its readiness to present oral testimony to substantiate its claims.
As of press time, Saipem had not issued an official response to the petition, and efforts to reach the EFCC for comments were unsuccessful.
The Speaker of the House is expected to refer the petition to the appropriate committee for further legislative action.
