Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said he had yet to be briefed about the multi-billion naira pipeline protection and waterways security contract awarded to company linked to ex-Niger Delta militant, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Minister Amaechi stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport led by Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani at the National Assembly complex.
Amaechi said he first heard about the contract on the pages of newspapers and that he had yet to be properly briefed by officials of the NIMASA on the matter since he was made minister.
He said he got to know about Global West Vessel Specialist Agency Ltd. – a company linked to Tompolo – when he visited the office of NIMASA recently.
He said, “It was in the public that I knew that Tompolo had a contract. Even up till now, I have never been briefed about the contract.
“How did I know the company? I got to NIMASA and I saw a building that was looking very ugly. And I said for Christ’s sake, who are the people staying in this dirty place? And they said staff of Global West Company and they are Tompolo’s staff.
“Nobody ever mentioned that contract to me. That’s why I said give me information about all the contracts that you have awarded in NIMASA so that I know and the stage of payment.”
It would be recalled that the company secured the $103m contract during Goodluck Jonathan administration, alongside other similar multi-billion naira contracts.
The contract and other similar ones given to Global West and other companies linked to the ex-militants have raised controversy since they were made public.
At the meeting on Tuesday, Amaechi explained that he was studying the railway and aviation sectors with a view to deliver solid infrastructure and processes.
