Monrovia, Liberia –In a controversial move, the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) has entered into a consulting contract with a newly registered company, West Africa Geo-Services, for an integrated geological survey of the Robert Bassa Basin.
A leaked business certificate obtained by Verity News reveals that West Africa Geo-Services was officially registered by the Liberia Business Registry (LBR) on November 14, 2024, under registration No: 053526144 and Tax Identification No: 501938585.
Interestingly, this contract, valued at USD 585,000, was signed in October 2024 – nearly a whole month before the company was legally certified to operate in Liberia.
The company was initially registered on August 22, 2024, with the actual registration completed on August 27, 2024.
Despite the lack of a traceable history in geological services in the country, the NOCAL CEO, Hon. Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, awarded this sizeable contract to a company only a month old and without the consent of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance, which is required by law.
The contract is set to last 24 months, during which West Africa Geo-Services is tasked with geological mapping, geochemical sampling, seismic data acquisition, and integrating existing geological data.
The survey’s primary goal is to identify potential hydrocarbon reservoirs and assess the onshore hydrocarbon potential of the Robert Bassa Basin.
The contract stipulates payments in three phases: USD 100,000 upon the signing and submitting of an inception report, USD 200,000 upon submission of a draft survey report, and USD 285,000 upon submission and acceptance of the final survey report.
These payments are to be made even though the company has no prior experience in the sector and no substantial track record in geo-services. The company has reportedly received US$300K in less than three months.
Steve B. Dorbor, Managing Director of West Africa Geo-Services, signed the agreement on behalf of the company.
The survey is expected to provide critical insights into Liberia’s untapped energy resources, potentially contributing to the country’s economic growth and energy sector development.
The agreement also outlines rigorous confidentiality clauses, ensuring that all data, reports, and findings remain the property of NOCAL, with the consultant prohibited from disclosing sensitive information.
The final survey report is scheduled to be completed by October 2026.
However, this award has raised eyebrows. Critics are questioning why such a large contract was awarded to a company with no established history in geo-services, especially when the company’s registration was finalized only after the contract was signed.
Some are even wondering whether the decision to award the contract was influenced by ulterior motives.
Adding to the controversy surrounding NOCAL, CEO Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis is embroiled in a financial scandal related to a questionable vehicle purchase.
Leaked documents obtained by Verity News suggest that Dennis orchestrated an inflated transaction involving the purchase of an MG 2024 Rx8 SUV for $75,000 from Cactus Motors.
However, sales documents show the duty-paid price of the vehicle was only $45,000, meaning Dennis allegedly overpaid by $30,000, which was purportedly intended as a kickback.
The transaction violates Liberia’s Car Import and Purchasing Policy, which caps vehicle purchases for public officials at $45,000.
Critics argue that this incident, coupled with the awarding of the $585,000 contract to an unproven company, raises serious concerns about financial impropriety and the integrity of NOCAL’s leadership.
Many Liberians are now questioning the credibility of NOCAL’s CEO and the transparency of the contract award process.
The connection between the company’s lack of experience and the sizable contract has only fueled suspicions of favoritism, corruption, and a possible scheme to extract kickbacks.
