The Rivers State Government has defended its purchase of two helicopters with the sum of $28,414,640m, saying that it was not a rip-off on the people.
The Commissioner for Information in the State, Mrs. Ibim Seminitari stated this Monday while briefing the press on the matter, which has received criticism from several quarters that the cost of the helicopters was rather outrageous.
The Information Commissioner who said the 2 helicopters have armoured plaits and surveillance cameras advised those she referred to as mischief-makers not to compare the “unusual armoured plaited and surveillance camera special specie helicopter bought by the Rivers State government with the normal helicopter which she said is naturally cheaper. “She berated the Daily Trust Newspaper for descending so low in publishing stories without cross-checking its facts and urged journalists to always adhere to the ethnics of the profession for the good of the society.
The government spokesman said the purchase of the helicopters was done in collaboration with the federal government and due process was followed, in that the proposal passed through the State House of Assembly.
Mrs. Seminitari said that model was necessary because the oil bunkerers wield sophisticated weapons that could even shoot down planes, therefore to guarantee the safety of the operators of the helicopters, the armoured plaited model was preferred.
Asked how the State government can sustain the maintenance of the helicopters, the Commissioner said a maintenance contract was signed with the manufacturer, Bell-helicopters to maintain the equipment at least until the present administration leaves office.
On the face-off between Rivers State and Bayelsa, over Soku oil wells, the Commissioner said she is optimistic that the matter will be amicably settled, as Bayelsa State is close to Rivers to risk any major crisis.
She charged the Federal Government through the National Boundary Commission to be fair in addressing the issue.
The Commissioner condemned a situation where proceeds from the contentions oil wells are being spent by Bayelsa State, while the matter was yet to be resolved.
Mrs. Seminitari appealed to the National Boundary Commissioner to correct the anomaly as promised to avoid crisis between the two sister states. ###
Barth Ndu
