The National President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA); Mr Tony Nwabunike has called on the Federal Government to involve youths of coastal communities as a Civilian Task Force to support the Navy and other security agencies in the fight against maritime insecurity.
Speaking atthe 8th edition of the Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture organised by Transport Day Newspaper in Lagos last weekend, the ANLCA helmsman noted that a safer and more secured maritime sector will open a vista of economic development for the country.
He presented a paper on “Blue Economy: Pathway for Nigeria’s Economic Diversification”.
The Deep Blue Project, also called the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, is a maritime security project, aimed at tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Gulf of Guinea.
The ANLCA President said the Nigeria maritime domain has suffered a setback of general insecurity either due to lack of priority attention, inadequate security platforms like patrol boats, aircrafts and supporting technology gadgets and lesser number of personnel to implement or enforce adherence to security on water.
While decrying rising maritime piracy, sea robbery, oil theft and kidnapping on the country’s waters, he opined that engaging the youths along with the deployment of the deep blue project, will go a long way in fighting piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and the country’s entire territorial waters.
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He stressed that safety of vessels, cargoes and crews on the country’s waters has direct impact on the overall economy since the maritime sector is critical in the areas of trade, investment, employment and recreation.
He noted that further development of Nigeria’s maritime potentials will be a bold step towards economic diversification for job creation, addressing insecurity and positioning our ports for hub status in the West and Central African regions.
According to him “Our maritime domain suffers the setback of general insecurity either due to lack of priority attention, inadequate security platforms like patrol boats, aircrafts and supporting technology gadgets and lesser number of personnel to implement or enforce adherence to security on water.
“Maritime piracy, sea robbery, oil theft, kidnapping on water or through water have been copiously recorded in the domain that should be contributing to our economic well-being.
“I am almost tempted to say that our Exclusive Economic Zone is no longer exclusive to us because the people I choose to call maritime bandits are threatening our space.
“I am aware that the Federal Government (through Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) is rising to the occasion with planned deployment of advanced security assets to energise our blue economy. I believe it will work if consciously sustained.
“It is anticipated that this move will go a long way in fighting piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and our country’s entire territorial waters.
“Safety of vessels, cargoes and crews on our waters have direct impacts on our overall economy since the maritime sector is critical for us in the areas of trade, investment, employment and recreation.
“While government is procuring platforms and training personnel for maritime security, I wish to advocate that a community supported security approach will be more productive.
“Government should as a matter of policy involve youths of coastal communities in a kind of Civilian Task Force to support the Navy and other security agencies in nipping our maritime insecurity in the bud.
“Further development of our maritime potentials will be a bold step towards economic diversification for job creation, addressing insecurity and positioning our ports for hub status in the West and Central African regions” he said.
