The Nigerian House of Representatives is to investigate the Deep Blue Contract agreement signed in 2017 for the supply of certain security and surveillance equipment for the country’s Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
The investigation would include the standards of all platforms purchased to the Nigerian Navy as well as the actual amount of money spent by the government on the Deep Blue Contract.
These were contained in a motion adopted by the lawmakers on the need to investigate the “Deep Blue” Contract to HSL International Limited.
Presenting the motion, Mr Benjamin Kalu from Abia State explained that the Deep Blue Contract has since its execution, attracted public outcry regarding the grave national security implications of the contract.
Mr Kalu said; “Recall that the Deep Blue Contract has since its execution, attracted public outcry regarding the grave national security implications of ceding the patrol of waterways from the statutory duties of the Navy to a private foreign firm, thereby undermining national sovereignty and security, following which President Muhammadu Buhari terminated the contract in 2018.”
He also expressed concern that despite the termination, the Deep Blue Contract has remained illicitly financed with monies neither appropriated nor authorized by the National Assembly.
“Worried by allegations that the Deep Blue Contract has remained serviced using monies diverted from the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (the Cabotage Fund) which was established by Coastal and Inland Shipping ( Cabotage ) Act as a fund strictly for the purpose of providing financial assistance to Nigeria operators to develop indigenous ship acquisition capacity in domestic coastal shipping; and which by Sections 42,44 and 45 of the Cabotage Act, can only be administered under the Ministry’s guidelines approved by the National Assembly solely for Nigerian beneficiary.” The lawmaker added.
The agreement was to also establish the integrated national coastal surveillance and waterways protection solutions with command and control of infrastructure in the nation’s territorial waters.
PIAK
