The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) this afternoon unequivocally declared that it never entered into any agreement with former Niger Delta warlord, Chief Government Ekpemukpolo alias Tompolo, for the purchase of any war ships.

NIMASA Director General/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, dismissed the allegation during a press briefing held this afternoon in Lagos.

He berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for alleging that the Agency funded the alleged recent purchase of war ships by a company belonging to Tompolo.

“Contrary to the allegations, Global West did not buy any war ship for NIMASA. They are operational boats. NIMASA through the approval of Federal Executive Council is running a concessionary arrangement with a private company through PPP. This company does not even belong to Tompolo,” Akpobolokemi said. He insisted that Tompolo is not the owner of the concessionaire, Global West.

“Also embarrassing is APC’s allegation that NIMASA is the ATM of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and that NIMASA is the one sponsoring the documentary on the APC presidential candidate (Muhammadu Buhari). This is completely false,” the NIMASA DG/CEO said.

He said that the Agency was equally taken aback by recent media allegations of non-payment of the school fees of over thousands of young Nigerians being trained abroad as seafarers, resulting in the ejection of some of them in Philippines.

“This is completely untrue,” Akpobolokemi said. “These allegations are false, baseless, malicious, wicked and cannot be supported by any evidence.”

He gave APC 72 hours to retract its statement and apologise to NIMASA or the Agency would have no other option than to seek legal redress.

Akpobolokemi insisted that NIMASA is achieving a lot as a responsible government Agency, vowing that “no amount of smear campaign by APC or any other disgruntled persons” would distract it from carrying out its legitimate duties.

•Photo shows NIMASA DG Akpobolokemi.

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