Alleged commercialisation: Reps ask committees to probe Navy

The House of Representatives on Tuesday raised concern over alleged commercialisation of the Nigerian Navy and subsequently urged the ministry of Defence to stop all further actions on the commercialization of the Nigerian Navy.

The House standing committee on Navy and Defence was also directed to investigate the alleged commercialisation through a business model between the Ministry of Defence, the Nigerian Navy and Shorefac Consortium Ltd and others.

The committee was given six weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.

The House resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma entitled, “need to stop the commercialisation of Nigerian Navy by Shorefac consortium Limited and others for the purpose of crude oil and Liquefied Natural Gas diversion to global destinations which was said to have undermine Nigerian’s National Security.”

According to the lawmaker, “on 21 February, 2017   Shorefac Consortium Limited made a proposal of a business model to the Ministry of Defence that would deliver 100 fast boats to the Nigerian Navy, together with an offer of maintenance support, all at no cost to the Government.”

He maintained that, “Shorefac Consortium, in order to recoup its investments, would become a commercial partner to the Nigerian Navy in commercializing the Maritime Services Department of the Navy which would then be expected to provide security services at a cost to International Oil Companies and other owners and operators of offshore assets.

He however said that, “Shorefac Consortium Limited has strong international affiliations, therefore engaging such a company to collaborate with a key arm of the Nation’s Armed Forces will amount to commercializing its core constitutional role and cause undue exposure of the country to foreign interference.

The lawmaker equally said that, “funding of the Armed Forces is the priority of the Federal Government, which must shield them from all manners of commercial ventures that could put the country’s security at risk.”

To this end, he raised concerned that commercialization of any sector of the Armed Forces would bring about profiteering that is devoid of allegiance to national causes, and ultimately erode the core military values of order and discipline as personnel would begin to compete to be part of the lucrative commercial business.

He further stated that, the commercialization venture might be a sinister plot to indulge in the illegal diversion of Nigeria’s Crude Oil and Liquefied Natural Gas to other destinations while using the Nigerian Navy as a legitimate front.

The motion was passed when it was put to vote by the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara.