FG Assures 75 percent Reduction In Piracy Attacks, Sea Robbery

Even though Nigerian waters is currently rated as second most dangerous waters and next to Somalia, the Federal Government of Nigeria has assured that this status will soon be corrected as the government is currently putting measures in place to ensure that incidences of piracy on Nigerian waters are reduced to about 75% in the next one year.
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar gave this assurance in Abuja on Monday during the presentation of the mid-term achievements of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in the transportation sector.
The minister assured that security on Nigerian waters has improved as a result of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), even as he assured that both agencies are still fortifying their efforts in this regard.

Umar explained that President Goodluck Jonathan had set up a ministerial committee as a result of the maritime retreat he held with maritime stakeholders recently and that part of the recommendations is to look into the disturbing state of security on the waters.
Speaking further , he said "part of the recommendations of the ministerial committee working on the presidential retreat is to address the security challenges on our waterways and we have made a very robust recommendation, by the time it is discussed and approved by National Economic Management Team, I believe that in less than one year, the situation will be brought under control by 75%".

The minister also assured that three armoured boats are expected in the next few months to complement the existing 25 boats that have so far been acquired through the Public Private Partnership venture of NIMASA with a private firm; Messrs Global West Vessels Specialist Limited.
While reeling out the achievements of government on stemming piracy in the period under review, Umar said the country recorded three sea robbery attacks and was able to evacuate five victims. Five vessels were also said to have been hijacked, seven people secured, while two people died.
He said that one vessel was intercepted carrying out ship-to-ship transfer, and that six marine distress incidents of fire, explosion and oil spill where recorded for the period under review.
According to the ministers' report, only one intelligence alert on arms importation was recorded and only one intelligence alert on toxic waste which was successfully aborted.
Speaking on the safety and security on the inland waterways, Umar explained that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has procured twelve security patrol boats during the period under review in order to complement what they had on ground.
The minister also added that efforts were on to develop the deep sea port in partnership with the private sector at Lekki and Badagry in Lagos, Ibaka in Akwa Ibom and Ogidigbe in Delta.
He disclosed that the other sea ports to be developed were the Olokola port in Ogun and Ondo States, as well as Agge port in Bayelsa.
“The current policy of port development is on equity participation of 20 per cent federal government, 20 per cent host state and 60 per cent private sector,’’ Umar said.
He said a memo would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval on the development of the Lekki deep sea port.
The minister said the port would be developed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) for a concession period of 45 years.
The concession, he said, would be in favour of Messrs Eurochem Technologies Corporation Ltd. and the Lagos Free Trade Zone Company.