Posted on: 09:51 Wed, 16 Dec 2015



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.