Abuja — National Security Adviser (NSA), Sarki Mukhtar, has been summoned to appear before lawmakers next week along with Ministers Ojo Maduekwe (Foreign Affairs), Godwin Abbe (Interior), and Shettima Mustapha (Defence) to explain the seizure of a Nigerian vessel by Somali pirates.
They are to state measures being taken to effect the release of the crew and ship.
The pirates have demanded a $1 million ransom for their release, failing which they say they will execute all the captives.
On Wednesday, some Senators pushed for the meeting with the government officials to hold in the open, but Senate President, David Mark, decided it should be held in camera.
Senators criticised the government for not doing enough to free the captives.
The hostages are Graham Egbegi (Captain), David Akpoguma, Namo Musa, Usman Ochoche Agida, Lucky Edoja, John Nkanu, Effiong Joseph, Emma Okon Timothy, Okuns Kalikio, and Bassey Etim.
They come from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Benue, and Nasarawa.
George Onokpite, Chief Executive of ESL Integrated Services which owns the ship is also to appear before the Senate Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior.
He will explain why the crew was abandoned in Somalia.
The newly bought vessel was seized on August 5 last year on her maiden trip to the country through the Indian Ocean.
The motion on Wednesday was sponsored by Deputy Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; Effiong Dickson Bob; and Mohammed Mana.
Ndoma-Egba lamented that in the eight months of the captivity of both the crew and the vessel, "nothing substantial has been done to secure their release, by either the ship owners or the Nigerian Government, which was duly informed on August 8, 2008.
"Although the Presidency is said to have set up a security committee headed by (Mukhtar) to co-ordinate the release of the ship, nothing tangible has come out of it so far."
Bob slammed the government, particularly the Foreign Ministry, for not showing sufficient interest in the hostages.
His words: "I don't really know the foreign policy of this country. We have not heard from the Foreign Affairs Ministry about the ship, unlike what happened when American citizens were kidnapped in Somalia and the government of the United States intervened, and rescued their people who were taken back home.
"Is it that we don't have an Air Force and a Navy? In fact, nothing has been done! For goodness sake, these captured people are Nigerians. The Senate should stand up and urge the government to bring back these people to and reconcile them with their families.
"The Foreign Affairs Ministry owes us an explanation over what is being done."
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Committee Chairman, Abubakar Danso Sodangi, described the incident as unfortunate, and echoed Bob's argument that Abuja ought to borrow a leaf from Washington which secured the release of Americans.
"The government has set up a committee on the matter but nothing has been heard about what it is doing. The Foreign Affairs Ministry shouldn't only be seen to be doing something, it should also be saying something."
Housing Committee Chairman, Ikechukwu Obiorah moaned that "the government pretends as if we don't exist. We exist, Mr. President. Nigerians are saying we want to see one quarter of one point of the seven-point agenda. Nigerians are worth something; our lives are worth something."
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It is quite unfortunate that the Federal Government and the National Assembly are now talking about this issue after eight months, the story was widely reported the moment it happened last August. It is just because the Government do not understand that the vessel and its crew is an extension of its territory which it must defend at all cost. Members of the national assembly should make sure that the ship owner gives good account of why he abandoned the crew; he should also be made to know that he owes the crew their salaries for the entire period of their incarceration in the hands of the Somali pirates. Furthermore the Federal Government should provide the Ransom for the release of the crew and two Naval patrol boats to escort them back home because they are Heros. The Federal government should take a cue from the US Government by responding promptly to Issues bordering on the safety of its Citizens.
So the Somalis will kill fellow Africans but not kill non-African captives? lol
If Somalis harm those Nigerians or refuse to turn those Africans loose very soon, then Nigeria should assist Ethiopia in putting the silly Somalis out of business; and take over Somalia in order to restore some sanity and the Rule of Law in that area.