Maritime Security: Why We Cancelled Controversial OMSL’s Secure Anchorage Contract, by Amaechi

*80% of deep blue assets ready by June, assures NIMASA DG

The Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi Monday gave reasons why the maritime security contract handled by Ocean Marine Solutions Limited (OMSL), was cancelled.
Describing the contract as illegal, Amaechi told newsmen at a press conference in Lagos that such job was clearly for the government and not private company.

The Minister said nobody should blame the Managing Director of NPA for the cancellation of the contract, adding that he had earlier informed the owner of the company that he as Minister took that decision.

He said, “I told the owner of OMSL that the Managing Director of NPA did not take that decision. It was my decision to terminate that contact and I took that decision because there is nowhere in the world where private individuals are tasked with protecting or securing a nation. It shows that there is a failure in governance and as Minister of Transportation, if I allowed that to continue it means that I have also failed”.
He said, “The payment for private company to secure anchorage area should have stopped. I have told the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to write to all those involved. The moment you continue to pay for such services, you’re going against the laws of the land.
“What we are saying is that government must protect both persons and investments. You can’t impeach a governor for not providing social amenities but you can impeach a governor who cannot provide security of lives and properties. This goes to show the crucial place of security”.

“Recall that we secured an approval from the Federal Executive Council to introduce a maritime security architecture, which is coming to fruition. We engaged the Homeland Security International (HLSI), who are only to provide training and equipment, while the Nigerian Navy would lead the Police, Nigerian Army and Department of State Services, among others that would run the equipment.”

The Minister expressed concerns on the rise in maritime security, adding that the Monday meeting attended by all heads of agencies was to discuss the maritime security architecture known as the Deep Blue Project.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside during the conference gave a breakdown of the assets being installed under the Deep Blue Project.

According to him, a good number of the assets had arrived the country, including six interceptor boats and a special mission vessel, with the second one expected to come in before the end of February.

Peterside disclosed that the first special mission aircraft will be in the country before the end of the first quarter of the year, while six armoured aircraft were already in the country, and the first unmanned aerial vehicle would come in before the end of February.

Dakuku stated, “We expect the first helicopter in the first quarter of this year. Almost all the communication gadgets are in the country as well as the Personal Protective Gear (PPG). The C4i centre is fully operational in Kirikiri, the NIMASA Research Centre. Those are the assets we have on ground. However, between now and June this year, over 80 per cent of the assets would be in the country and they would be manned by Nigerian military.”

He said that the training aspect of the project had since commenced in phases, adding that the first set of training for C4i operators and intelligence officers had been concluded, while Basic infantry training for soldiers who would fight on land around the littoral areas has also been concluded and the soldiers awaiting deployment.

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