ALLEGED MARITIME INSECURITY, OIL THEFT:

Anxiety peaked last week over the continued relevance of the multi-billion Naira maritime security contract that was awarded to Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, allegedly owned by Tompolo, one of the Niger Delta ex-militants.
Sources at both the National Assembly and the Ministry of Transport confided in Shipping Position Daily last week that the presidency is inundated with allegations of dwindling performances on the part of the contractors who were handed the responsibilities of policing the waters and securing the pipelines.
It was also confirmed that the moves at the House of Representatives last week were aimed at kick-starting the process of beaming searchlight on the performances of these companies.
Significantly, the House of Representatives last week set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the propriety or otherwise of contracting the protection of Nigerian waterways and oil pipelines to private firms as well as the alleged involvement of influential Nigerians in the theft of petroleum products and crude oil.

Our correspondent gathered that the House resolved to set up the committee on account of the curious recent allegation made by the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mr Ziakede Akpobolokemi about the involvement of "influential people" in oil theft in the country.

Adopting a motion of urgent public importance moved by Honourable Ali Sani Madaki, the House called on the federal government to prosecute oil thieves in the country no matter how highly placed they are to serve as deterrent to others.

The motion also seeks to fully equip the security forces in order to discharge their mandates as provided in Section 217 sub-section 2 (b) of the constitution as well as deploy security men to man the waterways as well as carry out surveillance of pipelines and oil installations.

Shipping Position Daily also confirmed that the committee has been mandated to look into the propriety of contracting the protection of Nigerian waterways and oil pipelines to private firms and report back to the house in two weeks.
Confirming the groundswell of opposition to the maritime security and oil pipeline protection contract, a member of the House committee on marine hinted that several law makers are uncomfortable with the controversial contracts.

He stated that: “We are likely to move for a review of the N16 billion Maritime Security Contract, you know that one and the one for pipeline were all awarded to the ex-militants after the amnesty deal”.

When asked why the searchlight is coming at this time, he also confirmed that there have been allegations that the companies were becoming inefficient and that there are also allegations that they may have been undermining the execution of the contract.
But a senior official at the Ministry of Transport who also pleaded anonymity dissociated the ministry from the rising opposition and the lobby at the presidency to evaluate the contract.
“We are not involved at all, you know it is NIMASA, so what is our own there?” he pointed out, even as he pointedly confirmed that the ministry is not unaware of the uproar.
When reminded that, it was the Federal Ministry of Transport that forwarded the memo to the Federal Executive Council, to pave the way for the maritime security contract, the official simply said: “We acted on instructions”.
Apart from the probe of Global West Vessels contract, the House of Reps is also probing the N5.6 billion, which NNPC spends yearly on oil pipeline protection in violation of the NSCDC Act.
The house gave the directive in a resolution following a motion moved by Rep. Robinson Uwak which was adopted without debate.
The three committees charged with the investigations are those of Petroleum Resources Upstream); Interior; National Security and Intelligence.
The report of the investigation is expected to be presented to the house within four weeks.
According to Uwak, the NNPC spends N5.6 billion yearly on the protection of oil pipelines in violation of the NSCDC Act, which empowers the corps to protect the pipelines.
Section 3 (1) e states that: "The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps shall maintain 24 hours surveillance over infrastructure, sites and projects of the federal, states and local government;
“The NSCDC has powers to arrest without a warrant, detain, investigate and institute legal proceedings against any person who is reasonably suspected to have committed an offence under this Act” he had reminded his colleagues last week.
However efforts made by Shipping Position Daily to speak with the managing director of Global West Vessel; Capt Winfred Itima were unsuccessful. He refused to answer calls made to his telephone number.