Three companies from the Niger Delta region, Peaches Integrated Services Ltd., Etucom Integrated Services Ltd., and Godsam Industrial Services Ltd., have appealed to President Bola Tinubu for assistance in recovering outstanding rental payments for their houseboats. The companies have provided the Nigerian military with houseboats that serve as floating operational bases for troops conducting prolonged patrols in the Niger Delta creeks. These houseboats accommodate and feed troops operating in areas without barracks, landing facilities, or other shelters.
The companies have alleged that rental obligations on the vessels had remained unsettled for 33 months, despite their continued service. The prolonged non-payment has placed significant financial pressure on the companies and affected their workers, including marine engineers, deckhands, cooks, security personnel, riggers, and drivers. Many workers have gone months without salaries, affecting their ability to meet essential expenses such as school fees, medical bills, and rent.
In August, affected workers staged a march in Port Harcourt to appeal for payment, emphasizing that the action was not directed against the Nigerian Army. The companies have raised concerns about the condition of the vessels, stating that houseboats require regular dry-docking, servicing, and recertification. However, the vessels have remained in continuous service without the required maintenance cycle.
The firms have acknowledged that the Commander, Joint Task Force, Operation Delta Safe, had requested a proposal towards an amicable settlement of the matter. The dispute is currently before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. However, the companies' appeal to the President is not for intervention in the judicial proceedings. Instead, they have asked the relevant authorities to verify the alleged outstanding entitlements and facilitate settlement of the amounts owed.
The companies have specifically called on the Minister of Defence and the Office of the National Security Adviser to verify and settle their outstanding claims. They have also proposed a payment framework for houseboat and marine service providers to the Armed Forces, which would provide greater certainty for indigenous contractors providing marine services to the military.
Resolving the payment issue would enable the companies to maintain their vessels and continue providing services to the Armed Forces. The companies have appealed to the President to consider their situation as part of efforts to support local businesses and indigenous enterprises. They have continued providing services after payments allegedly stopped, maintaining that their vessels remained in the field throughout the period.
The companies are seeking a resolution to the outstanding payment issue while ensuring that vessels requiring maintenance are released in rotation. They believe that this would enable them to sustain their operations and continue supporting the Armed Forces. The appeal to President Tinubu highlights the challenges faced by indigenous contractors providing services to the military and the need for timely payments to sustain their operations.
Key points
- The companies are seeking a payment framework for houseboat and marine service providers to the Armed Forces.
- The dispute is currently before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
- The companies have continued providing services to the military despite the non-payment of rental obligations for 33 months.
