By Uzor Odigbo
Nigeria’s Transport Minister, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that the constant attacks on vessels enroute Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) was embarassing.
During the inspection of some of the Deep Blue Project equipment in Lagos, the minister decried the embarrassment the attacks on ships by pirates have caused Nigeria, while reiterating government’s determination to rid the nation’s waters of criminals.
Amaechi, who was accompanied on the tour by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd); Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ete Ibas; and the Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, said while 85 percent of the assets have been delivered, others are still being expected.
He said, “No matter how embarrassing the situation is, the fact that the Federal Government is addressing it is most important.
“Don’t forget they tried it under Obasanjo, the PICOMMS project, it never worked. They tried it under former President Goodluck Jonathan, it never worked but here you have gentlemen who are determined to make it work and now it worked. So just be patient and give us some more time.
“We have said that we expect all the equipment to arrive by March next year and we expect that training should be able to end before March so allow the government to take a decision.
“Only the helicopters are being awaited. Every other thing has arrived and we hope to receive the helicopters by first quarter of next year. I don’t know when the assets will be deployed because that is a security question. Allow the security men to meet with us the policy makers and then we will conclude,” he said.