Controversy Trails JTF’s Documentation of Vessels in Rivers

Less than one week after the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) commenced documentation of all vessels and boats operating in Rivers State, maritime operators have expressed apprehension about the exercise.
The JTF, through its operation code-named "Operation Pulo Shield" announced that the security documentation and registration of the vessels barges and boats, which started last week, was to check oil theft.

Less than one week after the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) commenced documentation of all vessels and boats operating in Rivers State, maritime operators have expressed apprehension about the exercise.
The JTF, through its operation code-named "Operation Pulo Shield" announced that the security documentation and registration of the vessels barges and boats, which started last week, was to check oil theft.
The operators frowned at the registration fee which our correspondent learnt is N25, 000 for vessel and boat owners, N10, 000 for motorized boat owners and N5, 000 for small boats.
Justifying the exercise and the levy, the JTF acting spokesman, Captain Sunny Samuel said last week  that "The Joint Task Force Operation Pulo Shield has further been mandated to register vessels, barges, boats as a measure towards addressing the increase in the activities of oil thieves in the Niger Delta region,"
To actualise this, owners of the water crafts were directed to obtain registration forms at the 2 Amphibious Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt.
But president of the Seamen and Water Transport Workers Association, Horsfall Topman, told newsmen that the money allegedly being demanded as registration fees amounts to double taxation as members of the union pay annual registration fee to the Federal Government.
"We are not opposed to that, what we are asking is that, is the revenue going to the Federal Government? Because I know that some of these vessel owners have paid one thing or the other to the Federal Government by way of registration. We either pay to the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIMASA or to NPA. So, is this double taxation backed by the Federal Government? Or tax made by the National Assembly through the JTF? We don't know, and our members will ask us all these questions", he said.
Also speaking, leader of the Maritime Workers and Boat Operators union in the state, Francis Bodo said the JTF did not consult them before taking the decision.
"The union is not aware, I have just called my head office and they said they know nothing about that. If the JTF says it wants to stop illegal oil bunkering by registering all vessels and boats in Rivers State, that is fine, but they don't have to ask for money," he said.