FG Spent $18m To Repair A Ship That Cost $2.8m –late Mbu’s Book

FG Spent $18m To Repair A Ship That Cost $2.8m  –late Mbu’s Book 

Mathew Mbu, a former foreign affairs minister, narrated in his autobiography how the Nigerian government refurbished an old ship with $18m.

The ex-Minister stated in the book titled, Mbu: Dignity in Service, that he bought the ship on behalf of the country for $2.8m, and expressed surprise that the Ministry of Defence officials allegedly sent the vessel for refitting at a whopping sum of $18m, shortly after he left the ministry.

The ex-minister, who passed on in February 6, 2012, had left the manuscript of his autobiography which the family has published in his honour.

The son of the late diplomat, Mathew Mbu Jr., disclosed to journalists on Thursday that the book would be launched posthumously on the 10th of April, 2018 at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

In the book, the author explained how he fought corruption by serving with dignity, noting that the then Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammad Ribadu, approved $6.5m for the flagship, which he (Mbu) purchased for the Nigerian Navy for $2.8m, thus saving the nation $3.7m.

In addition to the ship, Mbu disclosed that the then Netherland Minister of Defence, Piet de Jong, who was his friend, also made a present of two ships to Nigeria as his country’s contribution to the Nigerian Navy.

“MT Mbu did not only come back with a flagship befitting the NN for $2.8m and saved $3.7m, but had a deal to pay back the $2.8m in 10 years interest-free.

“The story of Mbu tells us how to stop kickback and start kicking forward. Unfortunately, and it was a sad moment for Mbu when he left the ministry and one of those ships was sent for refitting at the cost of $18m,” Mbu Jr. stated.
Credit :punchng



Sharing is caring. Share this story