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A multi-billion naira scandal is brewing in Nigeria’s Ministry of
Defence over failure of the ministry to announce the winner of
last year’s tender for the supply of 6 Mi-17SH Military
helicopters.
The helicopters are meant to beef up military surveillance
against Boko Haram’s menace. So, instead of speeding up this
process, the country is awash with cheap Algerian made bomb
detectors which are grossly ineffective against Boko Haram’s
bombs.
In December 2011, the Ministry of Defence invited eight
companies to bid for the supply of six brand new Mi-17SH
Military Helicopters.
However, seven months after the completion of the tender’s
process, the ministry is yet to announce the winner. Many
believe that the money for the purchase of the helicopters may
have been looted. And the delay could have been lack of money
in which officials hope to put in 2012 budget.
As the nation endlessly awaits the winner of the bid, Our
Reporter conducted a research on the prices of the similar
helicopter and found that Russia has sold to date about 12,000
of these helicopters and recently USA bought 21 units of the
same type of helicopter in 2011 for $17,500,000 each.
Also India wants to buy 71 units of the same type of helicopter
2012 for a little over $17,000,000 each! It must be noted that
these acquisitions are open government tenders by the relevant
Ministry of Defence for each country exactly the same as the
Nigerian case.
In the tender, our investigation revealed that only two companies
out of the eight really have the capabilities to supply the
helicopters based on their tract records in the business but the
moves going on behind the scene suggest that these
companies might lose the bid for a less competent one.
These proxy companies we gathered might be asked to inflate
the price but a Russia company that wants to sell these
Helicopters is not likely ready to sell a military product at a
grossly inflated price in which the company considers a sale of
a $17,500,000 helicopter for more than $20,000,000 as gross
profiteering and could be tantamount to scandal.
For the fact that the winner of the tender has not been
announced seven months after the completion of the tenders
underscores lack of transparency and the fact that some
powerful cabals have hijacked the process.
Our source expressed fear that just like a typical tender
process in Nigeria, powerful cabals would eventually use a
proxy company to win the bid, a scandalous move that some
military experts believe could erode the image of the country’s
military.
“Before the harm is done by these cabals in the purchase of
these helicopters, it is important to inform the public on the
moves to undermine the purchase of the six new Mi-17SH
Military Helicopters.” our source explained.
Our source also said an excuse of lack of money to buy the
helicopters could not hold waters because the fund is donated
by the United Nations to support the country's efforts to combat
terrorism and other security challenges. The question now is
where is this fund? And what is delaying announcement of a
tender conducted over seven months ago.?
The following companies tender bid for the purchase of the
helicopter. Joint Aviation Services Ltd, Euro,159,765,930;
Solicom ltd, N24,822,952,000; Global Intact & Sons Ltd, N23,
893,542,777; Verbetyn Nigeria ltd, N22,553,475,000; Motyn
Nigeria ltd, N18,143,9280,000; Asset Management Corp Ltd.
N17,670,000,000; Dalhatu Construction Ltd, N11,280,000,000
and GNY Management & Consulting US$13,594,000.
Defence over failure of the ministry to announce the winner of
last year’s tender for the supply of 6 Mi-17SH Military
helicopters.
The helicopters are meant to beef up military surveillance
against Boko Haram’s menace. So, instead of speeding up this
process, the country is awash with cheap Algerian made bomb
detectors which are grossly ineffective against Boko Haram’s
bombs.
In December 2011, the Ministry of Defence invited eight
companies to bid for the supply of six brand new Mi-17SH
Military Helicopters.
However, seven months after the completion of the tender’s
process, the ministry is yet to announce the winner. Many
believe that the money for the purchase of the helicopters may
have been looted. And the delay could have been lack of money
in which officials hope to put in 2012 budget.
As the nation endlessly awaits the winner of the bid, Our
Reporter conducted a research on the prices of the similar
helicopter and found that Russia has sold to date about 12,000
of these helicopters and recently USA bought 21 units of the
same type of helicopter in 2011 for $17,500,000 each.
Also India wants to buy 71 units of the same type of helicopter
2012 for a little over $17,000,000 each! It must be noted that
these acquisitions are open government tenders by the relevant
Ministry of Defence for each country exactly the same as the
Nigerian case.
In the tender, our investigation revealed that only two companies
out of the eight really have the capabilities to supply the
helicopters based on their tract records in the business but the
moves going on behind the scene suggest that these
companies might lose the bid for a less competent one.
These proxy companies we gathered might be asked to inflate
the price but a Russia company that wants to sell these
Helicopters is not likely ready to sell a military product at a
grossly inflated price in which the company considers a sale of
a $17,500,000 helicopter for more than $20,000,000 as gross
profiteering and could be tantamount to scandal.
For the fact that the winner of the tender has not been
announced seven months after the completion of the tenders
underscores lack of transparency and the fact that some
powerful cabals have hijacked the process.
Our source expressed fear that just like a typical tender
process in Nigeria, powerful cabals would eventually use a
proxy company to win the bid, a scandalous move that some
military experts believe could erode the image of the country’s
military.
“Before the harm is done by these cabals in the purchase of
these helicopters, it is important to inform the public on the
moves to undermine the purchase of the six new Mi-17SH
Military Helicopters.” our source explained.
Our source also said an excuse of lack of money to buy the
helicopters could not hold waters because the fund is donated
by the United Nations to support the country's efforts to combat
terrorism and other security challenges. The question now is
where is this fund? And what is delaying announcement of a
tender conducted over seven months ago.?
The following companies tender bid for the purchase of the
helicopter. Joint Aviation Services Ltd, Euro,159,765,930;
Solicom ltd, N24,822,952,000; Global Intact & Sons Ltd, N23,
893,542,777; Verbetyn Nigeria ltd, N22,553,475,000; Motyn
Nigeria ltd, N18,143,9280,000; Asset Management Corp Ltd.
N17,670,000,000; Dalhatu Construction Ltd, N11,280,000,000
and GNY Management & Consulting US$13,594,000.
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THE STAR
THE PUNCH
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
TIMES OF ZAMBIA
THE SUN
DAILY GRAPHICS
THISDAY
MAIL & GUARDIAN
VANGUARD
D/INDEPENDENT
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The nation
Daily trust
Ghana Times
7amnewsextra
Multi billion scandal looms in Nigeria’s
Ministry of defence over helicopter purchase
Ministry of defence over helicopter purchase
____________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
African Examiner
Monday, June 11 2012
Monday, June 11 2012
| Copyrights © 2007 All Rights Reserved African Examiner Online is owned by RD Frontline LLC, a state of Maryland registered company P. O. Box 11582 Baltimore, Maryland, 21229, USA Tel: 443-904-1239. Editor-In-Chief: Oludare Sunday Fase |
