Headlines
Deep blue project excites African Union
… as lawmakers laud NIMASA for transparent execution Opeyemi Adesogbon The African Union(AU) has expressed its admiration for Nigeria’s deep blue project through an award for the concept. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi made this disclosure when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Navy which is currently probing the $195million project.
The Minister told the appreciative law makers 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 the Deep Blue Project Contract award to HLS International, Amaechi disclosed that necessary approvals were secured before the implementation of the Deep Blue Project. “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.” Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Committee, Honorable Yusuf Gagdi commended the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), for its commitment to transparency in its execution of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure also known as the Deep Blue Project. This commendation was made when the agency’s management appeared before the House Committee on Navy currently investigating the Deep Blue Contract awarded to the HLS International Limited by Nigeria. “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 the public interest but in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the land”. He said.
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 its fleet under the project.
“The government of Japan has also joined by pledging support via funds”. Dr 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 paramilitary 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 the security of commercial shipping in the Nigerian maritime domain.
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Headlines
EFCC denies disobeying court order on Yahaya Bello
The Eyewitness Reporter
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) has denied the widely held claim that it flouted a court order restraining it from arresting or harassing Yahaya Bello, the former Governor of Kogi State.
In a Press Statement signed by the EFCC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the Commission clearly pointed out that though Bello sought refuge in a fundamental rights enforcement action through an order granted by Justice Isa Jamil Abdulallahi of the Kogi State High Court, the order did not vitiate or nullify an order made by the Federal High Court for the arrest of the former governor for the purpose of his arraignment.“The enrolled Order of the Kogi State High Court only granted an order to enforce Bello’s right to personal liberty and freedom of movement, it didn’t preclude the Federal High Court ‘to make any Order as it may deem just in the determination of the rights of the Applicant and the Respondent as may be submitted to her for consideration and determination”, he said.
He further stressed that “The Order made by the Federal High Court for the arrest of Mr. Yahaya Bello for the purpose of his arraignment is not in conflict with the Order of the Kogi State High Court.
“The case before the Federal High Court is a criminal charge which is different from the fundamental rights enforcement action that is the subject of an appeal”.
Uwujaren pointed out that the EFCC had a shining track record in the prosecution of politically exposed persons and would continue to exercise its mandate in the overall interest of the nation.
” He admonished Bello to turn himself in and answer to the charges preferred against him by the Commission.
He called on all patriotic Nigerians to lend their voices in support of the Commission stressing that ” the EFCC will not relent in its quest to wrestle corruption to the ground”
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