In August 2012, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) broke some
disturbing news about Nigeria. It was reported that
some ex-militants in the Niger Delta had been paid
about N6.32billion within the past one year by the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Yes, for the ‘noble’ service of providing security against vandals for the Corporation’s oil pipeline network. Imagine! The breakdown, as outlined by WSJ, is this:
Chief Government Ekpumopolo (alias Tompolo),
Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, ‘General’ Ebikabowei
Victor Ben (Boyloaf) and ‘General’ Ateke Tom were
respectively paid N5.1 billion, N1.44 billion, N608
million and N608 million yearly by the state-owned
NNPC, as ‘protection money’ to guard the pipelines
they once attacked.
As if that was not enough an insult on the collective
intelligence of Nigerians, earlier in the year the
Federal Government awarded a contract worth $
103.4million (over N15billion) to the Global West
Vessel Specialist Limited (GWVSL) – a firm widely
believed to be owned by Tompolo to supply 20
vessels for the use of the nation’s military authorities to secure the waterways. Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ziadeke Akpobolokemi, had last year sent a memo titled, “Award of Contract for the Strategic Concessioning Partnership with NIMASA to Provide Platforms for Tracking Ships and Cargoes, Enforce Regulatory Compliance and Surveillance Of The Entire Nigerian Maritime Domain,” to PresidentGoodluck Jonathan.
In considering the memo, President Goodluck
Jonathan and Akpobolokemi chose GWVSL as the
preferred company for the 10-year concession
agreement, renewable for two terms of five years
each. Jonathan, in a memo dated 9th November,
2011, with reference number PRES/99/MT/61,
approved Akpobolokemi’s memo, which the Federal
Executive Council rubber-stamped on 5th January,
2012. According to Akpobolokemi, GWVSL “will
provide platforms for effective policing of Nigeria’s
maritime domain and ensure compliance with
international maritime conventions on vessels and
ships voyaging the country’s waters”. NIMASA
maintains that the concessionaire would help the
Federal Government to enforce the sabotage law aπϑ collect levies on its behalf. This, in a country that still maintains a statutory Naval force, and without å track record for GWVSL?
When you consider the reckless budget, and the
pampering of criminals nicknamed militants by the
government as led by Jonathan, the conclusion is
very grim. Now, the government plans to negotiate
with the Boko Haram terrorists group. This is a clear
indication of the failure, nay, surrender, of
government. It points to just one thing: this
government lacks balls! Harass and intimidate it aπϑ you are assured of juicy returns after negotiation.

abusidiqu.com/?paged=4