By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
ABUJA — The Federal Government, yesterday, explained that the Strategic Concessioning of the nation's waterways to Global West Vessel Specialist Agency, GWVSA, by Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has not in anyway displaced the Nigerian Navy from performing its statutory security roles on the nation's territorial waters.
The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, told journalists in Abuja, that contrary to speculations in many quarters, GWVSA would only provide platforms, security boats, equipment and expertise to help in securing the nation's waterways and thereby raise revenue and that its staff will not bear arms.
Besides, he disclosed that the company, said to be owned by ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo (aka Tompolo) would provide the entire $103 million investment and would only get paid after surpassing NIMASA's annual revenue collection profile.
His words: "Under the MIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) Act it is empowered to take charge of administration and the safety of our waters.
"And under the same Act, NIMASA has been empowered to carry out its functions, duties and responsibilities under the Act either by itself or through any institution of the government or any agency of government or in partnership with any institution of government or in partnership with any agency of government or through or in partnership with any natural person on limited liability company like the Global Ways Limited which has now entered into partnership with NIMASA.
"The mandate of that company in the country and the functions under the terms of the contract is to provide platforms, equipment and expertise to ensure the safety of the waters.
Staff not going to bear arms
"The staff of this company are not going to bear arms, let me emphasize. That is the responsibility of the Nigerian Navy. The company is not going to bear arms. It can only provide expertise. It is to provide platforms, it is to provide security boats, it is to provide equipment that are required to carry out surveillance of our territorial waters. So people should not make the mistake that government has concessioned the security of our waterways to private company.
Need to partner with private sector
"Because of the enormity of the capital required, like I said in my earlier presentation, that government alone cannot finance everything, we need to partner with the private sector and I want to make it very clear, that it is on a "no cure: no pay" basis and what that means is that the company will only be entitled to payment after it has exceeded the amount of revenue that NIMASA collected in the past. And in this case, we are using 2010 and 2011 as benchmark.
"It is only after it has exceeded the benchmark that it will be paid by government and this benchmark will be reviewed upward every three years. And don't forget that NIMASA officials will be there to monitor the company's activities.
"For instance, if in 2010 and 2011, which ever was higher, NIMASA was able to raise $ 100 million in a year, then in 2012, the company will only be entitled to payment after it has exceeded that $100 million benchmark.
"Whatever it is able to raise after the $100 million is what it will be entitled to collect its fee from which is 50 per cent of the revenue. If it is unable to meet the benchmark, then it will not be entitled to anything.
"The company's fee is to enable it recoup its investment because they are going to invest about $103 million. Government is not going to give them this money. They are to realise the money from collection of fees under the NIMASA Act.
"They are encouraged to work for higher collection because the more they collect, the more they get. So they are encouraged and they are challenged. So if in 2015 and 2014, they are able to reach $200 million per annual, then the bench mark will be $200million which will continue after every three years and that will put them on their toes and of course MIMASA is there to watch them."
MoU between NIMASA, Navy
The minister explained that there exists, a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU between the NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy, in which the latter has been empowered to protect the nation's waterways and that the deal remains in place.
"There is a memorandum of understanding between MIMASA and the Navy. MOU was established because of the law establishing MIMASA which gives MIMASA the power of administration and ensuring safety of our territorial waters.
"Because of the security aspect involved, MIMASA has to partner with the Nigerian Navy, so that navy will provide the required security in terms of handling of arms in the nation's territorial waters.
"People have been making a lot of insinuations, saying that our waters have been concessioned to militants. It is very irritating. This is absolutely wrong."
Sen. Umar disclosed that the federal government efforts at rehabilitating the rail system has been making a steady progress, with Lagos – Jebba segment having been completed and Jebba-Kano reaching about 85 per cent completion.
Vanguard Nigeria