Comrade Umar Jimoh (President SSACTAC Maritime)
Comrade Umar Jimoh (President SSACTAC Maritime)
Often time, when the ITF board some ships we have seen where agencies of government demand for things from the crew, but I won't mention name's of the agencies for safety reasons . We have seen government agencies taking lunch which were meant for the crew knowing full well that they spend days on the ship and I want to say such an act is not right for port business. So this has to stop because the ITF have being focusing on things like these in ensuring that it is done properly on board and I believe that a drastic decision must be taken on this issue by the relevant authority. We have what it takes to discipline and control all these ills onboard ships in the ports only that we are yet to apply strict penalty.
Comrade Julius Efokpor (Merchant Navy)
When you talk about regulating the actors on the maritime domain these are: NPA, NIMASA and NIWA because they are government agencies. But for the operators they are stakeholders, ship owners, seafarers and the port users, if the security agencies are extorting money from people on board the ship, then I think it is a crime, nowadays, because of the militancy in Niger Delta region and there restiveness in other regions, it has become the duties of the security agencies to ensure the safety of those on board and ensure that they are not harassed. So, if the agencies are doing this, then I think the seafarers are going to have a double tragedy. However looking at it, the Nigeria seafarers are not well paid today and unless the Maritime Labour Convention comes into action and set standard salary structure this will help stop the harassment, but above all the concerned authority should monitor the situation properly.
Matthew Adele (Dockworker)
The agencies operating at the port lack focus and integrity in the course of discharging their duties on board vessels. It is very easy for them to compromise because of the little things they get from the crew and that will show you the level of greed that is within our government agencies at the ports. The point I am trying to make is that there is laxity in the system and I pray they won't compromise our security at the port onto the hands of the foreigners who call at our ports.
Barr. Osuala Nwagbara (Maritime Lawyer)
We hear about law enforcement officers who board vessels and compromise their office or position, and I think it is not too good for port operations. I believe that there is no sufficient law regulating the actors in the maritime industry. We have always insisted that wherever these actions are spotted appropriate reports should be made to the law enforcement agencies so that immediate action will be taken against the offenders and also, I believe it’s an abuse of our port system, therefore there is the need to bring such attention of the enforcement agencies to prosecute those that commit such act.
Captain Onyeneim Iwebuke (Treasurer NAMM)
Yes, they are regulated, but the main problem is selfishness on the part of policy makers, it’s nothing to write home about and I don’t see reason why some security officers will involve themselves in that kind of activities whereby they collect things meant for people on board that could last them for days or weeks and those that call themselves security officers will extort it, thus leaving them with nothing, this shows lack of security in the ports. They should be watch dog of the ports, but instead they steal from those onboard; which is not right. I believe those who are aware of such activities should take drastic decision on this matter and report them to the authorities so that they can be punished by law.
Engr. Alalade Mathew (National President Nigerian Merchant Navy)
We have the regulatory agency in place; which is NIMASA, they regulate the seafarers in Nigerian and that is when we talk about safety, the NPA doesn’t do much regulation because they control the port which is their main job. Their duties is to cater for the welfare of the seafarers and also to monitor those who are board the ship without permit, it is also our right as the unions, to give information about this funny act to the regulator and the ship owners to make sure that their welfare is met. I believe government should do something about the situation quickly before it gets out of hand because the ports are delicate areas.
Capt. Olujide O. Olugunwa (NAMM)
The marine policy makers in Nigeria all have good intention especially on man power development, but I think they are not moving in the right direction. Due to the way people at the top are implementing it, this brings about confusion in the system. There is need to get stakeholders that have good intention of developing the industry and to involve all other pressure groups, so that such a practice can stop on board vessel in our ports and without making policy that suits the sector I don't think there is any way we can move forward in the maritime industry because more crimes will be committed.
Engr. Alex I.Nwangwu (Consultant)
The suggestion I will give is that if the people involved are caught they should be punished, I am not saying we shouldn’t have security on board, it is one of the provisions of the ISPS code. However if people within the security system or those that are supposed to be our watch dog are trying to use it to extort from those on the ship or do what the law does not permit, I think they should be sanctioned which I think will teach others a lesson.
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