Lagos – The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has told the international shipping community that the Federal Government’s is working to eliminate piracy and criminal activities in Nigerian waters.
This is contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka on Thursday in Lagos.
The director-general stated this while addressing multilateral and development agencies on the sidelines of the on-going International Maritime Organisation (IMO)/Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) sponsored integrated sub-regional Coast Guard function network in Brussels, Belgium.
Peterside said that Nigeria was working with both local and international counter- piracy partners to eliminate criminality on its waterways.
According to the director-general, we have a close working relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) in order to foster an integrated approach to dealing with the menace.
“We have also increased our surveillance and have deployed world class maritime domain awareness assets in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Ports Authority to monitor our maritime environment,’’ The Nigerian Observer quotes Peterside as saying.
He said that in addition, the country had deployed Maritime Patrol Aircrafts (MPA) in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force as well as other Naval assets to patrol and monitor the nation’s waterways.
The director-general said that as a signatory to all IMO instruments and regulations relating to maritime security, Nigeria was committed to their compliance in order to eliminate piracy and criminality on the high seas.
“Nigeria is mindful of the serious risk posed by piracy and maritime crimes to life, navigational safety and the environment.
“This is why NIMASA is strengthening the Regional Rescue Coordination Centre located in the country as well as enhance information sharing activities,’’ Peterside said.
Responding to questions on rising cases of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the director-general said that “Nigeria is adopting a multifaceted approach to deal with the challenge and assured the international shipping community that it is being tackled’’.
He urged the maritime community to draw a distinction between criminality, piracy and militancy, adding that “Nigeria is safe for shipping and other commercial activities in the maritime sector’’.
Peterside appealed to international development agencies to work with Nigeria in resolving maritime security challenges in the country.
The director-general said that Nigeria occupied a strategic position to the overall maritime development in the continent, given the size of the economy, population and geographical location.
