MTN installations in the Nigerian Niger-Delta region have come under threat from a contractor which has declared its readiness to attack facilities over unpaid debts.
Gbaruka Resources, a Bayelsa state-based company, made the threat. Gbaruka is a sub-contractor for Procomtel Limited, one of MTN’s major contractors, which it claims is yet to be paid by MTN for services rendered.
Explaining the rationale behind its decision to attack the facilities, the Managing Director of Gbaruka Resources, Comrade Charles Taylor, told the MD of MTN Nigeria via correspondence that it has not been able to receive payment for the project it carried out for MTN Nigeria through Procomtel Limited, which is also claiming that MTN has refused to release funds with which Gbaruka Resources would be paid.
Gbaruka Resources has therefore given MTN Nigeria until February 15 to resolve the financial situation with Procomtel Limited so that the latter can pay Gbaruka Resources.
It added that if MTN fails to resolve the financial impasse, Gbaruka Resources would commence the demolition of all MTN installations in Rivers State by the third week in February. It added that the company’s installations in Bayelsa and Delta states would be destroyed by the end of fourth week of February.
The company said it would extend the demolition exercise to MTN facilities in other states within the Niger-Delta region in March.
Copies of the letter were made available to the media. The company also copied President Goodluck Jonathan, the commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) comprising the Nigerian Army, Navy and Airforce operating in the Niger Delta. Others are the National Security Adviser, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS).
