Maritime
Okrika Boat Mishap Claims 6 year-old
Indiscriminate Parking of
barges Tug-boats and wreckages on the Marine Base-Okrika waterways has been identified as the cause of the recent Abuloma Jetty boat mishap in which a six-year old boy, Master Tamunosiki Alamina Koko lost his life.
The Tide maritime correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 10.O’clock in the morning when there was a low tide.
It was learnt that the driver of the speed boat (names withheld) with abou 12-passengers on board was coming from Okrika to Port Harcourt, but had to branch off at Abuloma to drop some of the passengers.
Our correspondent was told that the entrence to the Abuloma Jetty for passengers to disembark was blocked by two barges making it impossible for the driver to berth.
But the driver, in a bid to manoeuvre in between the two badges could not control the speed boat as the pressure of the water pushed the boat into one of barges , making the passengers to shift move to the other side, thereby causing the boat to sink.
Our correspondent also learnt that more lives would have been lost but for the help of the lives vest and guide intervention of some good Samaritans who rescued them.
The Tide gathered that the deceased was in company of his mother and his immediate senior sister Emmanuella on their way to Port Harcourt to attend a church programme before the sad incident occurred.
One of the survivors in the ill feted boat Miss Tamunosiki Achese, a student of University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), who later narrated her ordeal to our correspondent however thanked God for her survival and advised that speed boat drivers should be conscious and careful with the lives of their passengers.
Following the incident, it was further noted that the two barges in question have been seized and handed over to the Army personnel at the Okrika Jetty.
Meanwhile, the chairman, Okrika speed Boat Owners Association, Chief Opeya Sunday Okari has lamented the danger posed by the barges and wreaks, saying efforts have been intensified through series of letters and contacts even through sir Alaye Eremie, former commissioner for Empowerment Gener5ation and a former lawmaker, Hon James Fuayefika, but all to no avail. He appealed to the Government and other authorities, Nigeria Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA) to come to their aid by clearing the waterways for safety and to avent futher mishaps.
Chief Okari said the association had taken the matter to the Marine police, Inland waterways and currently to Rivers Stat Sanitation Authority, and that although some Uniform men and a Port Harcourt family in Abuloma that claimed to be the owners of the Jetty area are making things difficult, but expressed confidence that the issue would be lookd into by the authorities for the lives and property of its citizenry.
He said despite the high cost of petrol in the state, his organisation still collects N200 per drop from Port Harcourt to Okrika and also provided life Jackets free for passengers. Unlike other areas, and appealed to Government to provide vest to boat drivers at subsidized prices while also appealing to the Okrika local government council, Hon. Tamuno Williams to fulfil his promise of making available some life Jackets to the union.
The chairman however condoled with the family of the deceased and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Collns Barasimeye
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.
