Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, has taken a swipe at former militant commander, Government Ekpemupolo (better known as Tompolo) during his maiden visit to the Lagos head office of the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety and Agency (NIMASA).

 

Whiel speaking before the senate committee on marine transport, on Tuesday, Amaechi said even though he knew nothing about the multi-billion naira contract given to Tompolo, he expressed shock at the state of the Global West Company linked to Tompolo which is housed within NIMASA. He expressed shock that even after such a big money contract, there is nothing visible to show for it. 

 

Hear him: “I got to NIMASA and I saw a building that was looking very ugly. And I said for Christ’s sake, who are the people staying in this dirty place? And they said staff of Global West Company and they are Tompolo’s staff. 

 

“Nobody ever mentioned that contract to me. It was in the public that I knew that Tompolo had a contract. That’s why I said give me information about all the contracts that you have awarded in NIMASA so that I know and the stage of payment.” 

 

Tompolo, a former commander of the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), has come under severe criticism concerning the multi-billion naira contract awarded to him by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

 

He is also in a thug of war with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after he refused invitation by the agency. Tompolo is known to have enjoyed many favours from the past administration.