The
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has debunked
reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has
terminated the federal government’s pipeline security deal with Global West
Vessels Specialists Limited (GWVSL), a company said to belong to former
Niger-Delta war-lord, Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).
NIMASA:
Tompolo’s pipeline security contract intact.
Giving
the high incidences of pipeline vandalisation in parts of the country, it could
be recalled that the maritime security contract was approved by former
President Goodluck Jonathan and awarded by NIMASA in 2011.
But
in a sharp clarification, the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Jauro, on
Tuesday, during a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice
Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, refuted reports that the
maritime security deal was terminated, pointing that it did not in any way
encroach on the constitutional duties of the Nigerian Navy to protect the nation’s
maritime coast.
Jauro,
while fielding questions from journalists, stated that the agreement between
the NIMASA and Global West does not overlaps the statutory responsibilities of
the Nigerian Navy.
He
was emphatic that the contract with Global West was not an attempt by the
agency to hijack the functions of the Navy.
He
said: “It does not. Yes, it does not because the Navy is one of its kind and no
one is willing to go there and take anything from them.
“What
Global West is doing is just to help NIMASA to look at the issue of that takes
place in the waters, to push them back and I think we have done our best with
them. So far the level of piracy has reduced in the Lagos area.
“We
don’t have much report of them again and they have been pushed towards the
Delta area and we have been following them. And I think Global West has been
instrumental to that so far. It (the contract) is supposed to be for ten years.
It has run for three years.”
The
NIMASA DG further explained that the contract with Tompolo’s firm was designed
for a 10-year period, disclosing however, that the deal had been running for
three years, of the 10-year period covered by the contractual agreement.
According
to Jauro, the firm which was mandated to provide platform to NIMASA to fight the
scourge of piracy in the nation’s territorial waters, “have been able to reduce
drastically, the scourge of piracy in the Lagos area.”
In
a related development, Isichie Osangbi, Deputy Director of Public relations for
NIMASA, has denied receiving any directive from the presidency to discontinue
payment to Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL) for the
provision of platforms for security of the nation’s waterways, which is owned
by the ex-militant leader.
“NIMASA
is a government agency and would always implement government policy or reform
in the maritime sector and not to be seen doing the opposite. Also, as a
government agency, NIMASA ought to be in the know if there was any such
directive or change in policy, since the alleged directive, according to those
peddling the rumour, was meant for the agency to put an end to all payments to
Global West Vessel.
“I
tell you with due sense of responsibility that there is no such directive. If
there is, nothing would have stopped NIMASA from informing members of the
public or issuing statement to that effect,” he said.
“We
are aware of our core mandate and we will do everything to enforce the federal
government law as it affects the maritime sector. No rumor or falsehood will
distract us,” he said.
VANGUARD
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