Resolving The Rivers Helicopters Impasse

In spite of repeated outcry of the Rivers State Gov-
ernment over the failure of the Federal Govern-
ment to give approval for the delivery of two helicopters acquired by the state government for security purposes, nothing seems to be happening to address the matter.
Even more worrisome is the extra-charges being levied against the Rivers State Government by manufacturers of the aircraft for the failure of the state government to take delivery as agreed in the contract.
Because the Federal Government has not made any comment over the alleged denial of the needed approvals to the Rivers State Government, the matter is not only becoming more complex, and worrisome, but most wasteful. All these to our mind are avoidable.
According to the Rivers State Government, it was granted permission by the Federal Government to make the purchase. The state government also said it had met all the conditions of the contract, but could not bring in the aircraft because the Federal Government would not give the approval to take delivery.
We find this rather amusing and difficult to believe. There is no way the Federal Government that allowed the purchase of the helicopters on the one hand decide to withhold its delivery on the other hand, except there are other issues that have not come to light.
The Tide is also persuaded that as condition for the initial approval, the Federal Government would have been given all the information they needed to have on the purchase, including the plan to use it to boost security activities, even the survey of oil and gas pipelines, a veritable national asset.
But beyond the logjam is the fact that Rivers State is loosing revenue it does not have to waste. At a time the state needs all the money it can get to meet its contractual obligations and the due development of the state, this avoidable waste of money is most unfortunate.
While we do not believe that the situation may be politically induced, the apparent silence of the Federal Government on the matter is most worrisome. If there is any problem on the transaction, it is only natural that people get to know about it and take steps to address them.
In fact, because of the indefinite nature of the federal response, some Nigerians have even suggested that the Federal Government could go ahead to acquire the helicopters and return the money to Rivers State in order to stop the accumulating charges.
Even at that, the acquisition of the crafts by the Federal Government does not sound fair. Clearly, the same treatment cannot be given to any other state. The wasting tax payer’s money should ordinarily worry the Federal Government.
We hope that history would not be repeating itself. During the military rule, the old Rivers State acquired a luxury boat that the Federal Government considered too good for Rivers State. The boat that was christined  “Ogina Bereton” was taken over  by the Federal Government and re-named “Ruwan Yaro.”
The Tide is worried that this honest attempt at equipping the security agencies in the State to rise up to the delicate security situation in Rivers State could be thwarted. The state which is criss-crossed by rivers provide hideout for criminals where conventional vehicles cannot get to.
In addition to that, the act of sabotage on oil and gas pipeline that had adversely affected the nation’s economy could be checked with the use of these helicopters. If for nothing, this patriotic zeal could not have been rewarded with what we now see.
Even so, we think there is still time to resolve this matter. The Federal Government should kindly re-visit the matter with a view to arresting the accruing charges that would rob-off on the ordinary Rivers man. As a people that believe in the transformation of Nigeria; this matter would serve to send a confusing message. The worst we expect on this matter is for the helicopters to be brought in and for the Federal Government to determine how it should be used. Simple!