MYNATION NEWS – Latest report as the House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, and other stakeholders to produce the documents on the $195m waterways security contract awarded to an Israeli security firm within 72 hours.

The Federal Government had approved the contract in October 2017 for waterways security. It was approved for HLSI Security Systems and Technologies, an Israeli firm.

The contract involves the procurement of security equipment, training of the country’s security operatives, particularly, the Navy, to combat waterways crimes.

Ameachi himself had confirmed in Lagos during the 2017 World Maritime Day, which had the theme, ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People.’’’

The minister gave details, “When you see the equipment on the waterways, people will know they are safe and secured. Mr. President has kindly approved that, and that is being done through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.

“In the three years, they will train our Navy, our Army and our Police so that we can stop spending money escorting boats and vessels on our waterways.

“Currently, Maersk told me they spend between $15m and $18m annually to those escorting their vessels from one point to another on our waterways. We should be able to deflate that by next year so that people can do their businesses on our waterways without any fear of being attacked or harassed.

“The Israelis have assured us that after the training of our security operatives, such harassment and attacks on our waterways will not happen again.

“They even said we should hold them accountable if such harassment persists on our waterways after the training. That is one achievement that has happened under our leadership in the maritime sector.

Source....http://mynationnews.com/2018/01/31/panic-as-house-of-reps-give-rotimi-amaechi-72hrs-to-produce-195m-contract-documents/