By Emma Amaize & Akpokona Omafuaire
WARRI – DIRECTOR-GENERAL of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, weekend, said some people were raising dust over the waterways contract given to Global West Vessel Specialist Agency, GWVSA, a company former militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, has interest, because they are afraid that their illegal activities on the waterways would be exposed.
Speaking to newsmen at Oporoza during the annual Egbesu Amasikumor Festival of Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State, Akpobolokemi said: "Why they are grumbling over the project is because they will be exposed. The illegal activities they are conducting in the maritime domain are all going to be exposed, including illegal bunkering, illegal ship to ship transfer and mystery discharges that are not authorised. These are things people are afraid of."
He explained that the contract was not awarded to Tompolo as an individual, but to GWVSA, which he has interest, and which had been verified to have the capability to render the required service, adding that the ownership of the company could be verified from the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
He said: "If it is Tompolo that the contract was awarded to, is he not a citizen of Nigeria? Is he an ex-convict? Is he not more than 18 years old to own a company? We have hundreds of vessels which in the past 10 years and up till this moment, including patrol boats supplied by private individuals to oil multinational companies that are working in conjunction with the Nigeria Navy, has there been any complaint anywhere?
"Ask yourself. As we speak now, go to Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, SNPECo, Agip, among other, almost all the international oil companies, IOCs, up till this moment, have engaged everybody to supply them patrol boats, which the navy is using. Who has raised any dust?
"In the context of their project, they were not approved by the highest ruling body in the country. Not like ours that went through ICRC, the PVC, the Attorney General, the ministry through FEC, and that is the one people are complaining about. You should ask yourself, why they are complaining. It is because they are afraid that what they are doing. That is illegal in the context of our law is going to be exposed?
"Have you gone to the Corporate Affairs Commission? This is a knowledge- based world where information is at our disposal. Ask who owns this company. People should not make insinuations. Go and check who owns these companies. That is by the way if the man tomorrow has a reason to partner with us and we feel he is qualified, who are we not give him jobs?"
He said the contract awarded to GWVSA was a fair deal to Nigerians, "for the company was to provide logistics, platforms and equipment that the Navy would use in alliance with NIMASA to police the waterways."
Vanguard Nigeria