Contrary to insinuations and reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had cancelled the security contract between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, there are fresh indications that the reports are false.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said that its contract with Global West subsists for 10 years.
Acting Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro made these assertions in a press briefing last week in Lagos.
Contrary to insinuations and reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had cancelled the security contract between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Messrs Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, there are fresh indications that the reports are false.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has said that its contract with Global West subsists for 10 years.
Acting Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro made these assertions in a press briefing last week in Lagos.
Global West Vessel Specialist Limited, reportedly owned by Niger Delta former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo was awarded a security contract for a period of 10 years for the sum of $103 million (N21 billion).
Under the agreement, Global West has the responsibility of acquiring new vessels and maintaining them for ten years after which ownership of the vessels would pass over to NIMASA. The vessels are expected to be manned by the Nigerian Navy to tackle the menace of piracy in the country’s territorial waters.
However, maritime stakeholders have queried the efficacy of the Global West Limited, especially as it was nowhere to be found when victims of the marine accident that happened recently needed rescue.
But, defending the contract, the Acting DG said that NIMASA's contact with Global West Limited is for 10 years and that one of the vessels that were purchased by the company was used to move survivors from the MT Tank which collided with MT Elixir in a marine accident two weeks ago.
"NIMASA had a contract with Global West for 10 years, we are still using Global west vessels to facilitate search and rescue operations and enforcement, and the one that was used in this accident manned by Global West was NIMASA Dumebi"
Speaking specifically on the recent accident, the DG disclosed that: "We had four navy personnel on-board which we placed on MT Elixir for additional security, we asked the vessel to remain at scene until investigations are concluded".
Discussion about this post