The Nigerian Times is reporting that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison Madueke is embroiled in a fresh oil licensing scam.

The minister, popularly referred to as oil goddess reportedly stripped Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), of two of its Oil Mining Licences; OML 40 and OML 42 and gave them to two private companies closely linked to her, the paper reports.

According to the paper, Diezani who has in recent times been linked to many controversial issues as the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration winds up, close watchers are suspecting may have carried out this alleged scam as a parting gift for herself.

This development has drawn the ire of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) NPDC, Benin, Edo State branch. An insider who confided in Nigerian Times said the unions have given her till Friday to reverse her actions or they will shut down operation.

Nigerian Times was also reliably informed that the NNPC group has already informed the minister of its intention to join the strike if she fails to reverse her action within the time frame.

NPDC which has its head office in Benin City and base offices/warehouses in Port Harcourt and Warri was established in 1988 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the NNPC with responsibility for petroleum exploration and Production activities.

NPDC activities cover the spectrum of the upstream oil and gas business from exploration to abandonment.