Ex-Militant bought vessels on NIMASA’s behalf – DG

monjola sotubo

December 17, 2014 3:54 PM

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi disclosed this on Tuesday, December 16, during a press briefing in Lagos.

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi, has reportedly said that the six warships allegedly acquired by ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo were bought on behalf of the agency.

Akpobolokemi disclosed this on Tuesday, December 16, during a press briefing in Lagos.

The DG reportedly said that the ships were acquired for the use of the Nigerian Navy and other relevant government agencies in the fight against piracy and other related crimes on the nation’s maritime domain.

“It is the Navy that has fitted their guns on the vessels to aid their policing of the maritime domain. The Agency is made up of civilians who are professionals in various fields and who have no political affiliations or interests at all,” he said.

“As an arm of the government responsible for maritime safety, security and regulations among others, we work in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and other relevant security agencies to use their men and arms to patrol and provide safety of the country’s water ways,” Akpobolokemi added.

Norwegian newspaper, Dagbladet reported earlier that Tompolo’s company, Global West Vessel Specialist Ltd, acquired the decommissioned ships which had also been upgraded with new weaponry.

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