Jauro did not defend Tompolo’s Maritime Security contract — NIMASA explains
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has denied reports that it defended a maritime security agreement with former commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr Government Ekpemupolo, (Tompolo) during its meeting with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, late last month.
In a statement by its Head of Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka, NIMASA described the reports in the media as ‘mischievous’ adding that the agency’s Acting Director General, Haruna Baba Jauro had been ‘quoted out of context.’
“Reports have been making the rounds since the working visit of the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro to the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas on 29th of September 2015 that the DG defended “Tompolo’s maritime security contract” with the agency.
“But for the fact that the DG was quoted completely out of context, the Agency would have ignored these reports.
“It is instructive to note that Mr. Haruna Jauro did not at any point during the said visit, or at any other fora for that matter, defend ‘Tompolo’s maritime security contract’ because there is no such contract in the first place.
“What the DG said and which should be put on record is that “Global West Vessel Specialists Limited (GWVSL) has an existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with NIMASA wherein the vendor’s mandate involves procuring, bunkering and operating platforms on behalf of NIMASA on a Supply, Operate and Transfer (SOT) basis for a 10 year period as approved by the Federal Government in 2012 and it is presently in its third year,” the agency said.
Continuing, the agency said the vessels, which ownership will revert to NIMASA after the contract period, are manned by officials of NIMASA and personnel of the Nigerian Navy for the enforcement of the Agency’s mandate.
“This is not the same thing with a maritime security contract as many publications have alleged. It is therefore mischievous for anyone to allude that the Director General of NIMASA has defended a maritime security contract being executed by Tompolo on behalf of the Agency.
“The Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Ibas also re-echoed this position at the same event when he said “we (Nigerian Navy) provide security, we arm those ships. The Nigerian Navy is fully manning those boats and we still do”.
“It has become necessary to clarify this position as it is capable of misleading unsuspecting members of the public,” NIMASA concluded.
