NIMASA Ag. DG Hassan Baba Jauro
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has denied media reports that its Director General, Mr. Haruna Jauro “defended” the contract between the Agency and Global West Vessel Specialists Limited (GWVSL) during a working visit to the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
The agency, which stated this in a statement by its Head of Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka, said its DG was quoted out of context.It stated that Jauro had at no time endorsed or defended any maritime security contract with GWVSL.
According to the statement the company owned by Mr. Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, was engaged three years ago by the then management to procure, bunker and operate platforms on behalf of NIMASA on a Supply, Operate and Transfer (SOT) basis for 10 years.
It also stated that Jauro at the recent visit to the CNS had only stated that “Global West Vessel Specialists Limited (GWVSL) has an existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with NIMASA wherein the vendor’s mandate involves procuring, bunkering and operating platforms on behalf of NIMASA on a Supply, Operate and Transfer (SOT) basis for a 10 year period as approved by the Federal Government in 2012 and it is presently in its third year.”
It further explained that although GWVSL supplies the vessels, they are manned by NIMASA and Naval personnel.
Considering the purview of the contract, the Agency argued that it “is not the same thing with a maritime security contract as many publications have alleged” since the Nigerian Navy alone provides security and arms on those ships.
It stated that ownership of the vessels would be transferred to NIMASA at the expiration of the contract.
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