How pirate attacks, security concern threaten shipping activities in Eastern ports
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Eastern Zone has identified security concern caused by activities of pirates and sea robbers as a major challenge facing seaports in the South-South region, popularly known as the Eastern ports.
Abubakar Garba Umar, port manager of Rivers Port Complex, who said in a statement issued at the weekend, that ‘issue of piracy attack and ensuring safety and security on the water ways’ are the immediate responsibilities of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), also pointed to the need to increase security patrol of the water ways leading the ports in the Eastern region.
The port manager, who recently paid a courtesy call to the port service comptroller of NIMASA, Umar Dachia with the aim of maintaining the existing cordial relationship between both agencies, stated that constant security patrol of the waterway gives ship owners the confidence of doing business in the port without having the fear of being attacked.
“The attack of pirates on ships is a serious issue that affects the patronage of the port,” Umar pointed.
Commending NIMASA’s effort in enhancing trade facilitation at the port, the NPA boss observed, that since he took over as the port manager, NPA has never received any complain of delay in ship clearance from shipping agents.
This, according to him, shows that NIMASA recognises the issue of trade facilitation as one of its statutory responsibility that must be handled with keen attention. The NPA boss however solicited officials of NIMASA to put the authority on the known especially as regards to change of status of shipping company by NIMASA.
In his response, Dachia said that NIMASA has been trying in terms of security, and this led her to previously establish partnership with the Global Vessel to provide the agency with platform for the patrol of the nation’s maritime domain, which the agency has terminated and looking for new options to ensure that the waterways are constantly in check. NIMASA also signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Navy to patrol the water ways.
Dachia promised to put his men on the right track of ensuring that whenever there is change in the documentation procedure as it covers ship clearance and operations, the Port Manager should be given first-hand information. He promised to bring up all the challenges and issues brought up by the NPA to the management of NIMASA at the headquarters.
In a related development, Dakuku Peterside, the director general of the NIMASA has assured Nigerians and the international maritime community that the Federal Government is leaving no stone unturned in tackling the menace of piracy and other illicit crimes on the nation’s territorial waters.
He disclosed that the Federal Government recently approved for the procurement of three helicopters and 12 fast intervention vessels to ensure coastal and aerial surveillance as well as constant patrol of the Nigerian maritime domain by the Nigerian Navy and the NIMASA team.
Stating that piracy was not on the increase in the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea, Peterside noted that inter agency and regional cooperation through bilateral agreements as well as effective maritime domain awareness and strong legislation to criminalise and punish pirate, have become fundamental in addressing the challenges.
Also, Abdulsalam Suleiman, director, Legal Services of NIMASA said recently in a statement issued by the agency that NIMASA is presently working with the Federal Ministry of Justice to finalise the bill and has the assurances of the National Assembly of the expeditious passage of the bill into law within the shortest possible time to strengthen Nigeria’s anti piracy crusade.
Recall that as part of its commitment to fighting piracy and other maritime related crimes, the Federal Government approved the sum of $186 million for the acquisition of the above mentioned maritime security infrastructure.
Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie