 |
| Dr. Dakuku Peterside, DG NIMASA |
The
Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has expressed his agency’s determination to fight pirates and other bandits operating on the nation’s territorial waters.
Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has expressed his agency’s determination to fight pirates and other bandits operating on the nation’s territorial waters.
Peterside, while noting that
so far the rate of piracy has reduced, assured that this trend would continue as the agency moves to introduce new measures to tackle all forms of
maritime crime.
so far the rate of piracy has reduced, assured that this trend would continue as the agency moves to introduce new measures to tackle all forms of
maritime crime.
Speaking to the
executive members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers who met with
him in his office, the NIMASA DG said the agency was being repositioned to
play a new part in line with global best practices.
executive members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers who met with
him in his office, the NIMASA DG said the agency was being repositioned to
play a new part in line with global best practices.
Peterside ,who explained
that the agency was dealing with an international audience, was of the view that
this required that the standard to be international as nobody would assess the country with Nigerian standard.
that the agency was dealing with an international audience, was of the view that
this required that the standard to be international as nobody would assess the country with Nigerian standard.
According to him, part of
this new measure is a big fight against piracy and other maritime crime.
this new measure is a big fight against piracy and other maritime crime.
He pointed out that
the fight against maritime crime was collective, including the Nigerian Navy,
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and every other stakeholder in the industry.
the fight against maritime crime was collective, including the Nigerian Navy,
Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and every other stakeholder in the industry.
With this measure, he
assured that the industry wouid continue to experience drop in maritime crime.
assured that the industry wouid continue to experience drop in maritime crime.
He said, “ the fight
against piracy is a collective effort of all working in the sector, Nigerian
Navy, NPA and every other stakeholder in the industry.
against piracy is a collective effort of all working in the sector, Nigerian
Navy, NPA and every other stakeholder in the industry.
“Going forward, we will
experience more drop in cases of piracy and maritime crime. I have
always said it, we will do everything to tackle the albatross hanging
around our neck called piracy. We have put in place a number of
things to check piracy and other maritime crime.
experience more drop in cases of piracy and maritime crime. I have
always said it, we will do everything to tackle the albatross hanging
around our neck called piracy. We have put in place a number of
things to check piracy and other maritime crime.
“Number one is that in
the few days the House of Representatives will pass the Anti-piracy bill. It
has gone through second reading, the House has gone through it clause by
clause and it is remaining the final reading. It is to be passed
for concurrent by senate, and I think we have made remarkable progress in
that regard. When the Bill is passed into law, it will give us the legal
teeth to fight maritime crime and piracy.”
the few days the House of Representatives will pass the Anti-piracy bill. It
has gone through second reading, the House has gone through it clause by
clause and it is remaining the final reading. It is to be passed
for concurrent by senate, and I think we have made remarkable progress in
that regard. When the Bill is passed into law, it will give us the legal
teeth to fight maritime crime and piracy.”
The NIMASA DG said that the
agency was misrepresented on the deep blue sea project,
which according to him “involves acquisition of
critical maritime assets, boats, intervention aircraft, helicopters, command
and control centre and other assets including the training of of special
forces to tackle maritime crime.”
agency was misrepresented on the deep blue sea project,
which according to him “involves acquisition of
critical maritime assets, boats, intervention aircraft, helicopters, command
and control centre and other assets including the training of of special
forces to tackle maritime crime.”
He noted that a lot of
progress had been made, and that the assets would soon start coming in and would be on the waters with large foot
print on Nigeria’s territorial waters.
progress had been made, and that the assets would soon start coming in and would be on the waters with large foot
print on Nigeria’s territorial waters.
“The pirates cannot be
accommodated. We made it clear that by our presence, we will have zero
tolerance on pirates and other criminals within our territorial waters.
accommodated. We made it clear that by our presence, we will have zero
tolerance on pirates and other criminals within our territorial waters.
“We are collaborating
with Nigerian Navy to carry out a number of special operations, including
getting support from the US Navy. We have enhanced our surveillance systems. We
have a better view of what is happening in our maritime so that we can
intervene and respond within short notice.
with Nigerian Navy to carry out a number of special operations, including
getting support from the US Navy. We have enhanced our surveillance systems. We
have a better view of what is happening in our maritime so that we can
intervene and respond within short notice.
“Recently, we rescued a seafarer who
was attacked at the coast of Bonny and within a short notice we were able to
intervene and he was evacuated with our helicopters”, the DG said.
was attacked at the coast of Bonny and within a short notice we were able to
intervene and he was evacuated with our helicopters”, the DG said.
The President
of League, Mr Kingsley Anaroke had in his speech commended the
management of NIMASA for a number of reforms being introduced by the
agency.
of League, Mr Kingsley Anaroke had in his speech commended the
management of NIMASA for a number of reforms being introduced by the
agency.
Anaroke said
the new executive of League was ready to collaborate with
NIMASA in its various measures lined up to give the maritime
industry an international status that could compete with other global
standards.
the new executive of League was ready to collaborate with
NIMASA in its various measures lined up to give the maritime
industry an international status that could compete with other global
standards.
