Deep Blue Project: House Committee Queries NIMASA for Procuring Arms
Bashir Jamoh
*Agreement, processes on purchases handled by Transport Ministry – Jamoh
*Committee commends NIMASA on transparency
*Project earns international recognition, says Minister
The Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, on Wednesday queried the Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency (NIMASA) for procuring arms for a planned security arm that is yet to be set up in Nigeria.
Gagdi also commended the Management of NIMASA, for its commitment to transparency in its execution of the Deep Blue Project.
The query was in reaction to the submission made by the DG of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh which showed that the contract attracted a management fee of 10 per cent placed at $19.5 million.
Gagdi also questioned the custodial powers of NIMASA of the military equipment.
A report by THISDAY quoted the Gadgi asking, “We don’t have coast guard, why are you procuring military equipment and keeping them in your custody preempting that you would have coast guard to hand over to them? Do you think it is safe for this country to keep military equipment in your custody with the sole aim of establishing an agency, predetermining that Mr President would approve the establishment of the coast guard? What would be consequent effects of keeping the equipment in your custody?,
The DG said the total sum of $195 million which was approved by the executive was short of logistical expenditure.
Jamoh told the House Committee, “Let me start by addressing the cost of the contract. The cost of the contract was $195 million and 10 per cent management fee of about $19.5 million. I want to make it categorically clear, the amount represents the cost of this platforms.
“There are other things or related costs that may not be included here from the time we collected this asset to date. You need to manage the assets; you need to buy bunkers. You need do other things including those who are managing the platforms.”
Answering question on how the project was conceptualised, he said the whole contract agreement was handled by the Ministry of Transportation and fully paid.
Jamoh said, “Deep Blue was conceived. It was processed by the Ministry of Transportation and presented to the FEC with two prayers. One was to approve the execution of the contract and two for NIMASA to pay the cost of the contract and that was what was approved and conveyed such approval to NIMASA.
“As usual, we abide by the directive given to us. As of today we don’t have a cent unpaid. We paid the contract entire and the contractor completed the supply of all the platforms, except some the platforms still remain at Onne Port, because we were unable to pay the contractors that are clearing these items, their dues.
“We just received approval one and half months ago from the FEC to settle the contractor and get the remaining items. The contractor has given me his words that within the next two weeks we would get the remaining items cleared”.
He said that the platforms were still with the agency and not handed over to the armed forces.
The Committee is carrying out investigation on the legality of $195,300,000 Deep Blue contract the federal government had entered into with HLS International Limited, for the supply of some security and surveillance equipment and systems.
Meanwhile the Gagdi also commended the Management of NIMASA, for its commitment to transparency in its execution of the Deep Blue Project.
“We in the Committee of the Navy commend your Management team at NIMASA for providing all documents we have requested for. It shows that you have nothing to hide”. Our desire is to ensure public funds are spent not only in public interest but in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the land”, according to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edwards.
A member of the Committee Honorable Alao Ajala expressed delight at the fact that Nigeria has exited the global Piracy list. His position was re-echoed by most members of the Committee who also acknowledged the role the Nigerian Navy is playing in securing the nation’s territorial waters.
In his presentation to the Committee, the Director General of NIMASA Dr Bashir Jamoh, said that the Agency acted in line with approval from the Federal Executive Council for the Agency to fund the Deep Blue Project at the cost of $195 million dollars with a management fee of 10%, adding that the funds invested in managing the assets since their deployment is appropriated for by the National Assembly.
He also disclosed that the Korean Government has identified with the Deep Blue Project “The Korean Government is delighted at the concept of the Deep Blue Project and has promised to support Nigeria by donating a vessel to increase itsfleet under the project. The government of Japan has also joined by pledging support via funds”.
Jamoh listed assets acquired by NIMASA for the project to include 17 Fast Intervention Vessels, 2 Special Mission Vessels, 2 Special Mission Aircrafts, 3 Special Mission Helicopters 4 unmanned aerial vessels and 16 armored vehicles. The project also has a command and control center known as the C4i Center located in a NIMASA facility in Lagos which is jointly manned by officials from all the arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces, NIMASA staff and other para military Agencies who are part of the project.
The assets are properties of the Agency manned and operated by the various Military arms of government to enhance security of commercial shipping in the Nigerian maritime domain
In a related development, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed that Nigeria has received an international recognition in form of an award from the African Union for the concept of the Deep Blue Project.
Speaking on Tuesday, at the investigative hearing on the Deep Blue Project Contract to HLS International Limited, by the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, said necessary approvals were secured before the implementation of the Deep Blue Project.
He said, “I was to be in Nairobi last week as, the African Union gave us award for the Deep Blue Project. Presently, the crime rate on our waters and the Gulf of Guinea region has gone down. Before now, we ranked number one in the world, but, since the deployment of the HLSI project, piracy has gone down drastically.”
*Committee commends NIMASA on transparency
*Project earns international recognition, says Minister
The Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, on Wednesday queried the Nigerian Maritime Administration Agency (NIMASA) for procuring arms for a planned security arm that is yet to be set up in Nigeria.
Gagdi also commended the Management of NIMASA, for its commitment to transparency in its execution of the Deep Blue Project.
The query was in reaction to the submission made by the DG of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh which showed that the contract attracted a management fee of 10 per cent placed at $19.5 million.
Gagdi also questioned the custodial powers of NIMASA of the military equipment.
A report by THISDAY quoted the Gadgi asking, “We don’t have coast guard, why are you procuring military equipment and keeping them in your custody preempting that you would have coast guard to hand over to them? Do you think it is safe for this country to keep military equipment in your custody with the sole aim of establishing an agency, predetermining that Mr President would approve the establishment of the coast guard? What would be consequent effects of keeping the equipment in your custody?,
The DG said the total sum of $195 million which was approved by the executive was short of logistical expenditure.
Jamoh told the House Committee, “Let me start by addressing the cost of the contract. The cost of the contract was $195 million and 10 per cent management fee of about $19.5 million. I want to make it categorically clear, the amount represents the cost of this platforms.
“There are other things or related costs that may not be included here from the time we collected this asset to date. You need to manage the assets; you need to buy bunkers. You need do other things including those who are managing the platforms.”
Answering question on how the project was conceptualised, he said the whole contract agreement was handled by the Ministry of Transportation and fully paid.
Jamoh said, “Deep Blue was conceived. It was processed by the Ministry of Transportation and presented to the FEC with two prayers. One was to approve the execution of the contract and two for NIMASA to pay the cost of the contract and that was what was approved and conveyed such approval to NIMASA.
“As usual, we abide by the directive given to us. As of today we don’t have a cent unpaid. We paid the contract entire and the contractor completed the supply of all the platforms, except some the platforms still remain at Onne Port, because we were unable to pay the contractors that are clearing these items, their dues.
“We just received approval one and half months ago from the FEC to settle the contractor and get the remaining items. The contractor has given me his words that within the next two weeks we would get the remaining items cleared”.
He said that the platforms were still with the agency and not handed over to the armed forces.
The Committee is carrying out investigation on the legality of $195,300,000 Deep Blue contract the federal government had entered into with HLS International Limited, for the supply of some security and surveillance equipment and systems.
Meanwhile the Gagdi also commended the Management of NIMASA, for its commitment to transparency in its execution of the Deep Blue Project.
“We in the Committee of the Navy commend your Management team at NIMASA for providing all documents we have requested for. It shows that you have nothing to hide”. Our desire is to ensure public funds are spent not only in public interest but in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the land”, according to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Relations, Osagie Edwards.
A member of the Committee Honorable Alao Ajala expressed delight at the fact that Nigeria has exited the global Piracy list. His position was re-echoed by most members of the Committee who also acknowledged the role the Nigerian Navy is playing in securing the nation’s territorial waters.
In his presentation to the Committee, the Director General of NIMASA Dr Bashir Jamoh, said that the Agency acted in line with approval from the Federal Executive Council for the Agency to fund the Deep Blue Project at the cost of $195 million dollars with a management fee of 10%, adding that the funds invested in managing the assets since their deployment is appropriated for by the National Assembly.
He also disclosed that the Korean Government has identified with the Deep Blue Project “The Korean Government is delighted at the concept of the Deep Blue Project and has promised to support Nigeria by donating a vessel to increase itsfleet under the project. The government of Japan has also joined by pledging support via funds”.
Jamoh listed assets acquired by NIMASA for the project to include 17 Fast Intervention Vessels, 2 Special Mission Vessels, 2 Special Mission Aircrafts, 3 Special Mission Helicopters 4 unmanned aerial vessels and 16 armored vehicles. The project also has a command and control center known as the C4i Center located in a NIMASA facility in Lagos which is jointly manned by officials from all the arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces, NIMASA staff and other para military Agencies who are part of the project.
The assets are properties of the Agency manned and operated by the various Military arms of government to enhance security of commercial shipping in the Nigerian maritime domain
In a related development, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, Hon Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed that Nigeria has received an international recognition in form of an award from the African Union for the concept of the Deep Blue Project.
Speaking on Tuesday, at the investigative hearing on the Deep Blue Project Contract to HLS International Limited, by the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, the Honorable Minister of Transportation, said necessary approvals were secured before the implementation of the Deep Blue Project.
He said, “I was to be in Nairobi last week as, the African Union gave us award for the Deep Blue Project. Presently, the crime rate on our waters and the Gulf of Guinea region has gone down. Before now, we ranked number one in the world, but, since the deployment of the HLSI project, piracy has gone down drastically.”
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