Stakeholders in the maritime sector have advised the Federal Government to cancel all existing private security contract between the Nigerian Navy, International Oil Companies and other shipping companies.
Speaking at an event to commemorate the 2017 seafarers day celebration in Lagos last Monday, retired Naval personnel and maritime expert, Rear Admiral Godswill Ombo said that private maritime security contracts is killing the Nigerian maritime security system.
He also called for the harmonisation of radar systems owned by the Navy, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for maritime domain awareness.
He argued that the responsibility of maritime security is purely for the government as it has to do with equipment that monitors what happens at sea.
Ombo stressed the need for a maritime strategy and policy for the country in other to spell out responsibility of each of the agencies working in the maritime sector.
According to him, "the private maritime security companies that work with the Navy is helping to kill the Nigerian Navy, if I have my way, there would not be any private maritime security company working for anybody"
"We should build our Navy and make sure they be at sea. It is because their presence at sea is hardly there that the private security outfits have enjoyed field day. It is wrong, it is dangerous for the navy and it gets them nowhere"
"In the countries where these companies come from, they do not exist there, in a developed country you cannot find a private security company working for them" he said
He stressed the need for a National Maritime Security Domain Awareness Centre where everybody shares information and knowledge.
Also speaking, a seafarer, Capt Enitan Akanbi argued that attacks on vessels happen daily at sea, but most of them are never reported. He said that the pirates succeed on several occasions.
Capt Akanbi said that Nigeria needs an offshore military base, or a maritime security base at sea, which could be in form of an FPSO or any other platform. He said that by so doing, whenever attacks are going on, Nigerian security officials would be on ground.
In addition, he said Nigeria should take a cue from other countries where drones are now used for maritime security.
Speaking on the existing private security companies, he said "The IOCs have taken the responsibility into their own hands and are beginning to do it. They are all running individual security; there is no joint security on our waters anymore"
"Mobil Oil security do not respond to Total Oil May Day calls no matter how close they are to the scene of the attack" he disclosed.
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