FG tackles Israeli Firm over delay in take-off of $195m Maritime Security Contract

The Federal Government has lamented delay in the take-off of the $195m maritime security contract awarded to an Israeli firm, HSLI.

The federal government had in 2017 awarded a maritime security contract  to combat piracy and other illegal activities on the nation’s territorial waters.

But, speaking yesterday at the 3rd Maritime Stakeholders Interactive Forum held in Lagos, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi decried claims that buying the equipment meant for the project was the reason behind the delay.

According to the Honourable Minister of Transportation,the excuse given by the security firm for the delay is not tenable.

“The contractor claimed that equipments meant for the project is not what you buy off the shelf, that to me is not enough reason for the delay in the take-off of the project.

“On maritime security, I have told the Israeli firm HSLI that they are too slow. By now, they should have launched. I want to know the situation of things with the aspect of security on our maritime space.”

“HSLI said they have to fabricate the equipments and bring it down to Nigeria, but we are losing man hours, human beings and business to insecurity on our waters,” he lamented.

The Minister also assured stakeholders that the National Single Window will become operational by 2020.

Amaechi decried that Nigeria is the only country in West Africa without a single window in its seaport.

He however disclosed that he had discussed issues on maritime safety with President Muhammadu Buhari and said that by next year the country will have a single window in the maritime sector.

He said, “There are two things I discussed with Mr. President that I will be focusing on in this second term as minister, and they are maritime security and the single window project.
“I have assured the government that by the end of 2020, we should have the single window at our maritime sector

Speaking earlier, the Minister of State of Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Saraki promised to work on issues associated with cadets having sea-time in Nigeria.

In her words, “Don’t forget that I chaired the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for four years, so maritime is not new to me. I am just going to take my time because new  issues, like insecurity have come onboard.
“We are going to look at the issues of cadets not getting sea-time. We are also going to look at the issues of ship registry and cargo tracking note. We want to know how many jobs the maritime sector will create.”
Ameachi has disclosed that he would focus more on rail transport while the Minister of state for transportation, Gbemisola Saraki will handle maritime industry with occasional oversight from Ameachi when the need arises