Owolabi Omotayo (Chairman, MWUN water transporters)
From what we are seeing, the war is not being won, I cannot score NIMASA fifty percent now, I can only give them forty five percent because the war is not yet won, people are still operating, I believe what is more important for government to do is to boost the patrol for the navy and get them more involved in this fight, let naval boats be stationed at specific locations permanently on the high sea, they should have their gun boats and war boats, especially where the ships are anchored. The war is not being won yet, NIMASA still have a lot of work to do and collaborate better with the Nigerian Navy, the navy should raise a special squad for this war against sea pirates, this should be out of the regular Nigerian Navy, and they should work with NIMASA. You cannot do without the navy, they have to be involved, not an individual, it is wrong if you are giving the security of the waters to set of individuals.
Joseph Overo (President, NITOA)
If NIMASA says they are winning the war then it’s okay, but as far as I am concerned, around the fishing sector they are not doing anything, but on the aspect of the oil blocks and the rest, maybe they are winning in that area.
Okechukwu Vincent (Sec. Gen. AREFFN)
They are trying their best but they need additional assistance from the navy, the marine police and the government in terms of funding, they keep complaining about money, I know that to cover our territorial waters is not an easy task, especially in the gulf of guinea, so no matter the millions of dollars you give to them they will still need assistance, especially in terms of helicopter surveillance, flying boats and so on. It should also be a joint responsibility between the navy, the marine police and the NIMASA. In the Gulf of Guinea now, there is an upsurge in piracy and criminal activities and there is need to look at it critically so that it doesn’t escalate, NIMASA is trying its best, but its best may not be enough for us.
Sese Michael (Mariner)
The navy is to be applauded, I think the kudos should go to the navy because with the new chief of naval staff who happens to be a mariner, he knows what it takes to go into the sea and arrest the situations at sea. Since we do not really have a coast guard, they are acting under that capacity to protect lives and property at sea. And for NIMASA which is more of administration, looking at what is happening at the moment, I must say they have tried a lot and the synergy shows that it is goal oriented but the navy I must confess are one winning the war at sea.
Olawale George (Merchant Navy)
The credit should go to the Nigerian Navy in conjunction with NIMASA because it is NIMASA that has engaged the navy to do the work at sea. It is NIMASA that invited the navy to come and take charge of the security aspect at sea and in combating the problem at sea resulted to what we have today whereby series of arrest have been made and it will definitely result to a drastic declining of sea robbery activities. With more platforms in place, I think the navy can do more in winning the war at sea. In a nutshell the collaboration between NIMASA and the navy has recorded huge success in recent time.
Isaac Isunama (AMERO President)
The truth is that the navy has played a pivotal role on the reduction of pirate activities on our waters because the sea robbers cannot combat the navy in anyway, since platforms are now being provided for them through NIMASA, we can now see that they are winning the war at sea. To some extent the navy is more equipped, more effective and if NIMASA can provide more platforms for them, coupled with the present performance, then it is a victory for NIMASA and the Nigeria Navy.
Chris Sadoh (Stars Maritime Academy)
If you take a look at the history of maritime security on our territorial waters, you will discover that navy played a significant role in protecting our domain. In recent times, some agencies have been partnering with the navy in one way or the other, this has led to NIMASA’s supply of platforms for the blue navy, I can say that this has recorded huge success and with time, the partnership will reduce sea pirate activities on our waters. It is not only NIMASA winning the war; it is in collaboration with the Navy that they are winning the war at sea gradually. It’s a plus and I urged them to do more.
Samson Agbai (MD Fairhaven Maritime Ministry)
NIMASA 'S role in the war against piracy and armed robbery at sea includes the harnessing and proper coordination of the nation's human, material and intellectual resources for the effective and efficient reduction or elimination of piracy activities on our over 470 nautical miles of shoreline. This involves the active participation of all stakeholders and in-fact the entire maritime community, piracy is a crime against humanity and should not be treated with kid's gloves. NIMASA need to engage the entire maritime community in a dialogue with a view to cultivating and entrenching a sustainable safety culture for the industry. For example, the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) occupies an Observer status in the United Nations IMO and ILO organs, an arrangement that enables port chaplains around the world to contribute towards the global maritime labour and safety standards.
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