Reps commend NIMASA transparency on Deep Blue Project
Lagos -- The Chairman, House Committee on the Nigerian Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, has 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 during NIMASA management’s appearance before the House Committee on Navy 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 public interest but in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the land,” he said.
A member of the Committee, Honourable 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 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,” he said.
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 armoured vehicles. The project also has a command-andcontrol centre, known as the C4i Centre 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 security of commercial shipping in the Nigerian maritime domain