• Warns Operators over shipment of dangerous cargoes
Minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman has flagged-off the process of removing at least 24 critical wrecks and derelicts from the high maritime traffic-prone Lagos channel, even as he disclosed that a whopping N3.4Billion would be expended on the contract which is awarded to Messrs Lagos Channel Management (LCM).
Speaking at the ceremonial flag- off of the wrecks removal exercise which is billed to last between 18 months and two years, the minister also disclosed that the earlier controversy between the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) over wrecks removal has been laid to rest.
According to him, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by the two agencies, which covers specific areas of responsibilities. Shedding more light, he said that the wrecks removal was “an operation being carried out by the Nigerian Port Authourity to clear the channels and make the harbors safe for navigation”, even as he disclosed that the wrecks that would be removed from the waters would eventually be handed over to NIMASA which will thereafter decide what to do with them.
The minister also seized the opportunity of the event to admonish operators of the nation’s seaports to be more alert in view of the recent importation of sophisticated arms and ammunitions into the country through the Lagos Port Complex.
Affirming government’s concern over the arms seizures, the minister stressed that importation of such cargoes through Nigerian ports has the potential of undermining national and international security.
According to him, upsurge in importation and the consequent security challenges have made it imperative for all security agencies operating in the ports to continue to collaborate and share information among themselves so as to engender an efficient ports security management system.
On the need to ensure that the nation’s channels are safe for navigation, the minister stated that removal of wrecks would not only aid safe and secure shipping, it will also engender increased cargo through volume into Nigerian ports.
While welcoming guests to the event, the managing director, NPA, Malam Abdul Salam Mohammed had reiterated that the agency is statutorily vested with the powers of “ensuring safety of navigation, marine environmental protection, maritime security and harmonization of port procedures in shipping and ports operations”.
Giving an insight into where NPA derives its powers of removal of wrecks from, Abdul Salam explained that the powers are derived from “section7d and 32d of the Ports Act (1999), as well as Section 48 of the subsidiary legislation which empowers the Authourity to remove all obstructions within its ports jurisdiction that may restrict, endanger or interfere with navigation, be they barriers (both natural and man-made), rocks abandoned vessels, derelicts and wrecks”.
He explained that prior to awarding the contract, NPA had carried out series of survey and that as a result, a total of 147 contacts were detected, out of which 95 were lying within the main port channel and 52 within the Badagry creek.
Further survey was carried out and a formal safety assessment report identified a total of 31 wrecks that are critical to safe navigation and needed to be removed urgently, he disclosed, even as he added that the 24 wrecks for which the N3.4Billion would be expended were the first batch.
The event was attended by representatives of terminal operators, representatives of multinational shipping companies and across section of other stakeholders.
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