The House
of Representatives, on Tuesday, ordered the Minister of Transportation and
President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 Campaign Manager, Rotimi Amaechi, to produce
the documents on the $195 million waterways security contract awarded to an
Israeli security firm, within 72 hours.
It was learnt that the contract
involves the procurement of security equipment, training of the country’s
security operatives, particularly, the Navy, to combat waterways crimes.
Amaechi himself had confirmed in
Lagos, during the 2017 World Maritime Day, which had the theme, ‘Connecting
Ships, Ports and People’.
The Minister had given details:
“When you see the equipment on the waterways, people will know they are safe
and secured. The President has kindly approved that, and that is being done
through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
“In the three years, they will
train our Navy, our Army, and our Police, so that we can stop spending money
escorting boats and vessels on our waterways.
“Currently, Maersk told me they
spend between $15m and $18m annually to those escorting their vessels from one
point to another on our waterways. We should be able to deflate that by next
year, so that people can do their businesses on our waterways without any fear
of being attacked or harassed.
“The Israelis have assured us
that after the training of our security operatives, such harassment and attacks
on our waterways will not happen again.
“They even said we should hold
them accountable if such harassment persists on our waterways after the
training. That is one achievement that has happened under our leadership in the
maritime sector.”
However, the House resolved to
probe the contract after 10 Civil Society Organisations petitioned Amaechi,
warning the Federal Government against proceeding with the contract.
The House
Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by a member of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, from Abia State, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, is investigating the contract
Expressing the frustration of the
Committee, Nkem-Abonta stated: “We have been demanding these documents and we
have received no responses. This is about the 8th hearing on this issue.
“If the contractual documents and
agreements cannot be produced within the next 72 hours, we will be forced to
close this matter and make our recommendations to the House.”
Another member of the Committee
from Lagos State, Rotimi Agunsoye, expressed displeasure over the situation,
saying that the House was being taken for granted.
“There is no point giving the
stakeholders extra 72 hours, since taxpayers’ money is involved. We should just
close the matter.”
He argued that further giving the
stakeholders another 72 hours was a waste of parliamentary time.
However, Nkem-Abonta intervened,
urging his colleagues to give Amaechi one last chance with the 72-hour grace.
He said: “Let us still give them
the benefit of the doubt; after 72 hours we can close the matter.
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