RIVERS STATE Commissioner for Information Mrs. Ibim Semenitari was yesterday the guest of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) in Abuja.
She was invited for interrogation by the NSA on her comment on the cost of the two choppers acquired by the state government.
After telling the NSA all she knew about the helicopters, Mrs. Sementari said: “I am out. All is well. I will speak when I get to Port Harcourt.”
She spoke at 2:51pm in Abuja.
The NSA’s invitation, it was learnt, was through his office’s Special Investigations Unit (ISU), which directed the commissioner to report there at noon yesterday.
Mrs Semenitari, who left Port Harcourt, the state capital, for Abuja yesterday morning, maintained that the two choppers were acquired for security surveillance and not for 2015 political campaigns, as being insinuated in some quarters.
At a news conference she addressed on Monday, the commissioner said the two Bell 412 EPI armoured helicopters were bought by the state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government through the office of the NSA.
She gave the cost as $28.4 million.
Expressing shock at the insinuation by some people that the $28.4 million price was inflated and that the actual cost of the two choppers was $13.4 million, Mrs Semenitari blamed it all on those she called mischief makers who, she said, have turned the state to a battleground.
The commissioner said the Federal Government paid $15 million. The Rivers government paid the balance of $13.4 million.
The President Goodluck Jonathan administration granted a duty waiver.
She noted that the helicopters were being freighted into Nigeria and would be reassembled in Lagos. They will be operated by the police in conjunction with the oil companies that had offered to bear some of the operating costs.
According to Mrs Semenitari, the choppers would strengthen the battle against illegal oil bunkering, kidnapping and armed robbery.
She said: “The attention of the government of Rivers State has been drawn to deliberate and repeated attempts by a group of disgruntled and self-serving politicians to engage in a smear campaign against the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led administration.
“The latest allegation is that Governor Amaechi has acquired armoured helicopters and private jets ahead of 2015. It is a figment of their imagination. The Rivers State Government is keeping with its promise to render transparent and accountable stewardship to the people of Rivers State.
“The Rivers State Government has always owned a private jet and has not purchased any new airplanes or does it intend to purchase one. As is typical of Governor Amaechi, such purchases would be openly and transparently done and so would not need to be a matter of conjecturing.
“The police took delivery of similar choppers in 2012, built by the same company. The 412 four-axis choppers are rated the most advanced civil helicopters in the world. The acquisition, which was done with the support of the Federal Government, is to enhance security of lives and property in Rivers State.”
She explained that the government has been supporting security agencies by investing in state-of-the-art and up-to-date security equipment.
She pointed out that the government’s investments were pivotal to the restoration of peace and security, not only in the state, but also in the Niger Delta and, indeed, the Southsouth and Southeast zones.
The Rivers Government also lauded President Jonathan for his quick action and support, which led to the procurement of the helicopters, stressing that “his commitment to national security and willingness to collaborate with all tiers of government and all sectors to ensure the security of lives and property are worthy of accolade and support”.
Mrs. Semenitari said the government would not join issues with those behind the allegation, which she described as ridiculous.
She said: “The Rivers State Government will not take up issues with anybody on the purchase of the two helicopters at $28.4 million.
“Rivers Government will not want to imagine that the allegation on the amount the helicopters were purchased has a link with the battle for the chairmanship of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).
“The grade of the choppers acquired by the Rivers State Government is more superior than the ones earlier purchased by the Nigeria Police. The two new helicopters will be managed by the Nigeria police in fighting kidnapping, oil bunkering and armed robbery.
“The two helicopters are armoured-plated and fitted with security cameras. It is wrong to compare an armoured helicopter to aircraft with many accessories for surveillance.
“The two choppers were purchased after the Nigeria police bought theirs. We went for armoured helicopters because they are for security to monitor oil theft in the Niger Delta region.”
