Maritime
Aide Blames Firms, Vessel Operators For Maritime Insecurity
The desire by oil
companies, fishing trawlers and other vessel operators to cut corners and engage in economic malpractices is responsible for the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria’s maritime domain, the presidency has said.
Speaking at a seminar tagged: “Preventing Terrorism and Insurgency in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain,” organised by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Affairs, Mr. Leke Oyewole, said companies operating in the nation’s waters were guilty of illegal acts which encourage violence in the Maritime sector.
Oyewole said, oil companies operating in the country often pollute the waters and neglect their host communities stressing that youths express their dissatisfaction by attacking the companies and their infrastructure in the maritime domain. He said fishing trawlers carry cash from illegal trade on the high sea, while tanker vessel operators engage in illegal oil trade, thereby attracting the pirates to attack them.
Oyewole, however, admitted that weak maritime laws and lack of enforcement of the laws had largely contributed to the growing trend of piracy and other illegal acts in the nation’s maritime sector. He assured that government was working to create a synergy among agencies in the maritime sector and correct administrative lapses identified with a view to tackling insecurity in the nation’s waters. He pledged tough measures by government in fighting piracy, terrorism and other acts of violence in the maritime sector, saying that they would seize vessels involved in illegal acts and make adequate laws.
He revealed that a bill to strengthen the fight against piracy and other illegal acts in the nation’s waters sponsored by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was currently before the national assembly. For the part, the President of Crisis Control Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Ezeatakwulu-Osakwe, stressed that negligence in the nation’s security framework and the unwillingness of the people to cooperate with government were responsible for the high level of insecurity in the country and the maritime sector.
“The citizens are so much exploited, denied their rights that they become afraid of government security agencies. The increasing insecurity in Nigeria is elf-imposed and inherited by the present administration. It is clear that the present tackling methodology is not completely adequate because certain ingredients are still not added to the operational system of the entire security structure”, he said.
To address insecurity in the maritime domain and in the country, he called for an end to corruption, the development of an effective judiciary and good citizen-government relationship. He also urged security agencies in the country to be proactive in their approach to tackling terrorism and insurgency.
In his own presentation, Rector of the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Okwuashi, called for imposition of life sentence for piracy and other terrorist acts in the nation’s maritime sector, while the government must also mobilise the people to actively participate in the battle against terrorists and other agents of violence.
However, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Nebolisa Emodi has assured that the cooperation among the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Navy and the private sector was capable of addressing security challenges in the nation’s maritime domain.
Also speaking, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and Eugene Nweke of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) urged action on the different laws and policy decisions taken to strengthen the nation’s maritime sector.
For his part, Mallam Isah Suwade of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stressed that his organisation had continued to develop adequate maritime infrastructure and sponsor manpower development as a way of tackling insecurity in the maritime sector.
He, however, regretted that inter-agency decisions reached in the past were not properly implemented.
Earlier, Aniemu Ismail, president of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria had stressed that unless strategic steps were taken to tackle insecurity in the maritime domain, the hope of reaping the benefits of Nigeria’s maritime potential would not materialise.
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.
