In its latest report on piracy and sea robbery in Nigeria, the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) stated that kidnapping on sea more than doubled in 2015. The report indicated that, while nine cases were recorded in 2014, the figure rose to 19 in 2015.
As a result of five attacks off Nigeria, kidnappings on sea more than doubled from 9 in 2014 to 19 in 2015, said in its annual piracy report.
About two weeks ago, there were reports that pirates masquerading as militants hijacked a tanker vessel and kidnapped five foreigners.
Prior to these reports, there had been apprehension on the part of fishing trawler owners over renewed attacks on their ships.
Recently the Nigerian Merchant Navy and Water Transport Senior Staff Association raised alarm that many of its members have been attacked. The same alarm was raised by a former president of the association; Capt. Thomas Kemewerigha, who pointedly appealed to the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency to step up their patrol of the country’s waters.
Reeling out facts, he said, “The dreaded sections of the Nigeria’s waters span the shore to about 45 nautical miles into the Atlantic Ocean. These areas include Middleton, Kulama, Brass offshore, Fish Town, Akasa and Pennington Rivers.
“These areas have become hell for seafarers as pirates wreak havoc on defenceless seafarers, unchallenged. They attack the vessel, forcefully collect their valuables, kill and maim the seafarers.
“From 14th January till date, seven attacks have been recorded on fishing vessels and vessels working for Chevron. Pirates are on the rampage and these areas are not being patrolled the Navy and NIMASA.”
And about two weeks ago, news broke that a Maersk Line ship was attacked on Nigerian waters, but the attacked was repelled by the Navy.
Even though it is the nation’s maritime safety and security agency, NIMASA’s name has been missing in action in the records that are being reeled out on anti-piracy and sea robbery activities in Nigeria.
Only recently, the Nigerian military reeled out its performance statistics for 2015. It said it arrested 1,610 pirates, militants and criminals in the Niger Delta region in 2015,
Security forces said they also seized 50 oil vessels, 200 barges and weapons during the raids. According to the officials, security operations started a sharp increase in September 2015.
But it is on record that NIMASA was born on August 1, 2006, and one of the many reasons that were adduced to justify the 2006 merger of the National Maritime Authority (NMA) with the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) was the need to tighten security on Nigerian waters.
Hence, NIMASA was created to; among other things provide regulations related to Nigerian shipping, maritime labour and coastal waters. The Agency also undertakes inspections and provides search and rescue services.
There was a time in its almost 10 years history when NIMASA was accountable for some feats, especially after it took delivery of four state-of-the art patrol boats – NIMASA Port Harcourt, NIMASA Lagos, NIMASA Burutu and NIMASA Warri, which were described as the fastest boats on the nation’s waters.
Deliberately or otherwise, while the usual press statements from NIMASA about arrests and seizure of ships and persons involved in piracy and oil theft have stopped, attention has shifted to the Nigerian Navy and the Joint Task Force (JTF), which now (on daily basis) reports its exploits.
Hardly is there any week that the Navy does not address the media about exploits in the Niger Delta. It has become so usual that one begins to wonder if there still exists the NIMASA in the fight against piracy and sea robbery in Nigeria.
The current rising spate of attacks has called to question, the Memorandum of Understanding that is in existence between NIMASA, Navy and the Air Force?
We recall that it is the NIMASA/ Navy MoU that gave birth to the Maritime Guard Command which is domiciled in NIMASA. It is this command that was largely responsible for the increasing rate of arrests of sea robbers and pirates in the past. So where has the Command gone to? Certainly, the effect of the much- mouthed arrangement with the Air Force is not yielding any feasible result
We maintain that it is the statutory responsibility of NIMASA to ensure a safe and secure passage for ships, crew and cargo. The ad hoc arrangement with Navy, Air Force or the former arrangement with a private firm is just what it is – purely, ad hoc.
The Navy and the Joint Military Task Force in the Niger Delta code-named Operation Pulo Shield appear to be the toast right now; it is recording seizures and arrests of oil thieves and ships. There have been unprecedented arrests of sea robbers, oil thieves and pirates.
The earlier NIMASA takes full charge the better for the nation, the maritime industry and the economy at large.
Even though the most reasonable model in the fight against piracy and sea robbery appears to be Coast Guard, which is already a tested global model in the fight against piracy and all forms of vices associated with seafaring in some climes, it has met a brick wall in Nigeria. Attempt to float the Maritime Security Agency (MASECA) was also truncated by some forces for primordial interests. The question is: if the Coast Guard system has been tested and adjudged adequate in other maritime domains, what do we have against it in Nigeria?
The way out may well be a revisit to the MASECA Bill, which will involve a rejig of the NIMASA Act.
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