The United States and France have confirmed their participation in the upcoming maritime summit on drug smuggling and human trafficking, organized by the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) and the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO).
The event, set to be chaired by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, is scheduled for Thursday, August 22nd, 2024, at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, Chairman of the AMANO/MASPAN Planning Committee, announced this during a press conference held at the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) secretariat on Friday.
He expressed growing concerns over the increasing quantities of drugs found on ships arriving at Nigerian ports and the persistent issue of stowaways on vessels departing the nation’s ports.
According to Maiguwa, these illicit activities pose significant risks to shipping operations, leading to heightened operational costs and severe psychological trauma for seafarers. He highlighted the need for collective action from key stakeholders to address these challenges effectively.
“Ships have been detained for several months, while their crew were placed on trial and forced to remain without seeing their families for several years in cases of drug smuggling,” Maiguwa noted. “At the end of this conference, we hope that stakeholders will arrive at workable solutions and mandate a working group to ensure the actualization of the resolutions reached.”
On the issue of human trafficking, Maiguwa emphasized the disruptive impact of stowaways, particularly in Lagos ports. He pointed out that the discovery of stowaways before vessel departure often leads to delays, while cases where stowaways are discovered after departure create significant administrative burdens for shipowners due to complex protocols.
Maiguwa explained that organizing this summit became crucial after considering the potential disruptions drug smuggling and human trafficking could cause to shipping operations. He stressed the importance of reducing, if not eradicating, these illicit activities in the maritime domain.
“The goal is to align with critical agencies in making sure that drug smuggling and human trafficking in the maritime domain are reduced; if not eradicated, perpetrators are penalized in a way that innocent parties are not made to pay the price, and the industry is not deprived of its growth potential,” Maiguwa stated.
He further revealed that the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),which is the key agency responsible for narcotics control in Nigeria, has committed to fully participating in the panel discussion at the summit. He also confirmed that both international and local shipping companies, along with the Embassies of the United States and France, have shown keen interest in the event.
Stressing that the summit is strictly by invitation and registration, Maiguwa encouraged stakeholders interested in attending to contact the Planning Committee via the numbers provided on the event flyer to secure the few remaining seats. The summit promises to be a pivotal moment in the fight against drug smuggling and human trafficking within Nigeria’s maritime industry, he assured.
