Jonathan Awards Tompolo Contract For 20 Patrol Boats

Former militant leader in the Niger-Delta, Chief Government Ekpemupkolo, also known as Tompolo, has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract for the procurement of 20 patrol boats for the Nigerian military for the security of the nation’s coastline.

It is believed that the contract award was influenced in his favour by his kinsman and Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan.

The contract award disclosure was made by the Minister of Transport, Senator Abdullahi Idris Umar, who, in a chat with the BBC Hausa service, said the Global West Specialist Agency, believed to be owned by Tompolo, had delivered eight of the 20 vessels as stipulated in the contract agreement.

Umar, who only mentioned the name of the company throughout the chat and not the owner of the company, also did not mention the cost of the contract.

He further said that Global West Specialist Agency will consult for the government in securing the Nigerian coastline and analysts believe this move would render the Nigerian Navy redundant.

The action is also being analysed as a declaration of a lack of confidence in the Nigerian Navy.

However, denying the argument, the minister noted, “we did not say that the company will take over responsibility of the Nigerian Navy.

“The company’s job is to just buy the vessels and other components needed in securing the coastline.

“And the partnership reached has nothing to do with them taking over functions of the navy.

“…There is nothing like navy has failed; the issue is not that. The partnership is legal but not taking official functions of the navy.

“If we guard this coastline it will boost our revenue, and the reforms meeting we are doing is to bring change.”Since Goodluck Jonathan became Nigeria’s President, Tompolo’ company has continued to enjoy patronage of the Federal Government in terms of contract for jobs for which the Navy was established.

—Eromosele Ebhomele