NISA laments losses in Nigeria’s shipping trade following increased pirate attacks …seeks asset deployment by Navy to combat crime
 |
| President of NISA (Middle) Mr Aminu Yusuf |
The Nigerian
Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA) has bemoaned various losses in its
trade following the increased pirates’ attacks on Nigerian waters, even as a
fresh attack was launched against a tanker waiting to enter Agbami Terminal for
loading on Wednesday.
Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA) has bemoaned various losses in its
trade following the increased pirates’ attacks on Nigerian waters, even as a
fresh attack was launched against a tanker waiting to enter Agbami Terminal for
loading on Wednesday.
President of NISA,
Mr Aminu Umar, who disclosed this to newsmen at a conference held at the
Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency(NIMASA) to take immediate action.
Mr Aminu Umar, who disclosed this to newsmen at a conference held at the
Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency(NIMASA) to take immediate action.
Umar said NIMASA
should engage the Nigerian Navy to deploy more assets to the areas that need to
be so secured, in order to check the spate of attacks on vessels by pirates.
should engage the Nigerian Navy to deploy more assets to the areas that need to
be so secured, in order to check the spate of attacks on vessels by pirates.
“Whenever a pirate attacks your vessel there
are damages, there is injury to the crew, there is either cargo loses, a lot of
time loss, freight loss.
are damages, there is injury to the crew, there is either cargo loses, a lot of
time loss, freight loss.
“There is loss of lives also. All these things
are trauma that we do not want to see happen to anybody.
are trauma that we do not want to see happen to anybody.
“We look up to
NIMASA , to discuss with the Navy to be able to see where those hot zones are,
and to deploy more assets there, to make sure transit to that area is safe.”
NIMASA , to discuss with the Navy to be able to see where those hot zones are,
and to deploy more assets there, to make sure transit to that area is safe.”
Umar said NIMASA
should endeavour to take immediate action deploying the navy with the available
finance from the ‘sea protection’ money paid by every ship owner and every
vessel coming into Nigerian waters.
should endeavour to take immediate action deploying the navy with the available
finance from the ‘sea protection’ money paid by every ship owner and every
vessel coming into Nigerian waters.
“We really wish
that the new Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside should take it up with the Nigerian Navy to
ensure that a lot of assets are deployed, especially that each Nigerian ship
owner is paying for this sea protection.
that the new Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside should take it up with the Nigerian Navy to
ensure that a lot of assets are deployed, especially that each Nigerian ship
owner is paying for this sea protection.
“Every ship that comes to this country is
paying for this sea protection, so, the funds are already there. So, they need
to be able to fund whatever deployment that is supposed to be there to protect
those ships,” he said.
paying for this sea protection, so, the funds are already there. So, they need
to be able to fund whatever deployment that is supposed to be there to protect
those ships,” he said.
Umar said the
situation was worrisome and more like what it used to be in Somalia because the
pirates even attack vessels that are just passing through Nigerian waters.
situation was worrisome and more like what it used to be in Somalia because the
pirates even attack vessels that are just passing through Nigerian waters.
“Remember, Nigeria
is a coastal country, it is not only vessels that trade in Nigeria that get
attacked, but also vessels that transit from West Africa to Southern Africa, get
attacked.
is a coastal country, it is not only vessels that trade in Nigeria that get
attacked, but also vessels that transit from West Africa to Southern Africa, get
attacked.
“Actually, there
were about two or three vessels that had no business in Nigeria that were just
passing though and they got attacked.
were about two or three vessels that had no business in Nigeria that were just
passing though and they got attacked.
“So, it is a level like what was happening in Somalia
some years back that is happening today in the Gulf of Guinea,” the NISA
President said.
