Maritime
Vessel Fire: Maritime Workers Accuse NIMASA Of Negligence
The Maritime Workers Association comprising of the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), and the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association have accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) failure to respond swiftly to distress call on the recent fire incident that gutted MV ORC IV off Bonny channel on the 6th February, 2019.
The association expressed displeasure over negligence on the part of Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (RMRCC) unit of NIMASA as the incident left two seafarers missing.
Though official of the agency explained that they responded to the distress call put across by owners of the vessel, the trawler group lamented that the Search and Rescue unit of NIMASA failed to live up to the responsibility, which in turn led to the disaster at sea.
Reacting to the fire incident on Tuesday, President of NITOA, Akinsola Amire, in a statement berated the agency in charge offor safety at sea of inefficiency in carrying out its rescue operations as at when due.
According to him, the fire incident that led to two seafarers missing and a badly damaged trawler ORC IV would have been averted if the agency had responded in good time.
Recall that on 6th of February, the fishing company lost a vessel, ORC IV to inferno off Bonny anchorage in Rivers State after two days of burning without help despite repeated calls to the maritime agency. While expressing disappointment over the manner the incident was handled by NIMASA which eventually led to inability to put out the fire, Amire noted that the regulatory agency did not have the wherewithal to address safety issues at sea.
According to him, when NIMASA was contacted about the incident, the agency claimed to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with (NLNG) on occasion of fire incidents but added that “instead of NLNG to salvage the situation, it was asking for a contract before it could carry out the salvage operations.”
Amire alleged that “Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas NLNG claimed to have gone to the vessel location and reported that the vessel was beyond salvage, meanwhile they did not go to where the location of the incident but later asked to sign a contract before the salvage operations could be carried out.”
“We must call a spade a spade. It is me today, it can be anybody tomorrow. The question is what are they (NIMASA) coordinating, is it just to bear the name?
However, official of the Search and Rescue unit, who pleaded anonymity told The Tide that ” RMRCC operation is capital intensive and NIMASA cannot shoulder everything to handle issues of safety at sea alone because it is subjected to the will power. He noted that NIMASA has other stakeholders in the maritime that assist whenever there are distress calls based on proximity to the location of a particular incident.
“We got the alert around 8.30pm and we contacted our partner in that axis but we had network issues that period.
“We contacted NLNG to assist and rescue the vessel from sinking.” he said.
Chinedu Wosu
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base (FOB), Badagry, says its gallant officers have rescued nine women from the hands of suspected human traffickers.
FOB said the suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for prohibition of Human trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This was disclosed to newsmen in a statement by the Base Information Officer, Litunent B. Awodeyi, in Lagos.
Awodeyi said the first interception of the women was during a stop and search operation by the Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Command in a boat traveling to mile 2 and Panshi Jetty in Lagos State were five women between the ages of 19 and 32 were rescued.
The statement further said four women were also rescued by QRT two days later in a boat along Tongeji Island in Badagry, with the ages of victims ranging from 19 to 24 years.
Awodeyi said the rescued suspects were under investigation in line with the 2016 Harmonised Standard Procedures on arrest.
Although the names of the suspects were not made public by FOB, it insisted that the operation reflects Navy’s dedication to combating human trafficking and ensuring a secure maritime environment in line with the Chief of Naval Staff’s strategic directive 2023 and 2026.
The directive, Awodeyi said, is aimed at promoting safety in Nigeria’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), led by its President-General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, has announced plans to embark on a nationwide strike, if the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) fails to pay nine months of salary arrears owed its employees.
Adeyanju said the affected workers are members of MWUN, and accused CRFFN management of neglecting its financial responsibilities.
MWUN in a statement by its Head of Media, Comrade John Kennedy Ikemefuna, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the actions of the CRFFN’s Acting Registrar.
The statement noted that MWUN had exhausted all available options for negotiation, including issuing several ultimatums, but that the efforts were ignored by the management of CRFFN.
“The most recent attempt at mediation occurred in Abuja on September 18, 2024, yet no progress was made in resolving the matter”, it said.
The statement criticised CRFFN for disregarding a crucial resolution reached during the mediation meetings.
According to Ikemefuna, one of the resolutions stipulated that when funds become available to the CRFFN, the payment of employees’ salaries should be prioritis ed.
The statement further noted that CRFFN diverted available funds to conduct what it described as a “kangaroo” training programme for select staff members, leaving the issue of unpaid salaries unaddressed.
“This is a clear violation of the agreements reached”, it emphasised.
The Union said CRFFN’s actions have deepened the financial challenges faced by its members, hence MWUN expressed disappointment that, despite their willingness to cooperate with the CRFFN management, the regulatory body has continued to act in a manner that undermines the rights and welfare of its members.
The workers union, therefore, insisted that it would no longer tolerate the perceived impunity of the CRFFN and declared that if the outstanding nine months salary arrears are not paid, it would have no choice but to initiate a total withdrawal of its members from services.
“This action would impact key sectors of Nigeria’s maritime industry, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, dock labour, shipping and freight forwarding agencies, as well as seamen working across all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms”, Ikemefuna stated.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, has thwarted a smuggling attempt of N1.1billion illicit drugs in four containers at Apapa Port.
The four seized containers were filled with narcotics valued at N1,183,915,500.
The Command’s Area Controller, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, disclosed this to newsmen through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abubakar Usman.
The seizure involved 236,783 bottles of cough syrups containing codeine and Barcadin, packed in a total of 2,174 cartons from two terminals under the command’s jurisdiction.
Three other seizures were made at APM Terminals, while one was intercepted at Kachicares Bonded Terminal.
Comptroller Olomu explained that, “On October 11, 2024, during a joint inspection of a 1×40 container, number MRKU0377493, our officers discovered prohibited CSP cough syrup—34,800 bottles packed into 174 cartons, each containing 200 bottles.
“The shipment was expired at the time of interception”.
The statement said on the same day, another 1×40 container, number TGBU8886020, was found with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup, packed in cartons containing 100 bottles each.
Additionally, a third container (TCKU6800526) examined on October 15, 2024, at APMT Terminal, labelled as containing essential goods, revealed 19 cartons of concealed CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest with codeine, packed in 200 bottles per carton.
Another major seizure was recorded on October 15, 2024, at Kachicares Resources Terminal: A 1×40FT container, number SUDU8579006, declared as containing kitchen wares, was found with a concealed stash of Barcadin cough syrup in 1,584 cartons, along with 83 loose bottles.
Comptroller Olomu described the seizures as part of the NCS’ zero-tolerance policy toward smuggling.
Apapa Command, he said, “is committed to efficient trade facilitation while maintaining strict controls on revenue collection and anti-smuggling activities.
”I urge those engaged in illegal trade to avoid Apapa Port. Our vigilant officers, using intelligence, technology, and experience, are poised to detect and intercept any smuggling attempts”.
He insisted that Codeine abuse has been linked to severe side effects, including drowsiness, confusion, and increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.
“The Nigerian government banned the importation of codeine-containing cough syrups in 2018 after widespread misuse among youth”, he noted.
The Comptroller said further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend the individuals behind the smuggling attempts.
