shippingposition
  • Home
  • News
  • Editorial
    • Vox Pop
  • Maritime safety
  • Oil and Gas
  • Personality
  • Health
No Result
View All Result
shippingposition

Home » Gov Akpabio of Akwa Ibom confirms Shipping Position Weekly story.

Gov Akpabio of Akwa Ibom confirms Shipping Position Weekly story.

by Joshua
October 26, 2009
in Uncategorized

• Says there is post-amnesty sea robbery in Akwa Ibom

Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state has charged the Nigeria Navy to stem the rising tide of sea robberies within the state’s nautical boundary saying that the relevant armed forces must rise to the emerging challenges of post-amnesty militancy. 
Shipping Position Weekly had reported exclusively in its last week’s edition that militants-turned sea robbers have laid siege on Akwa Ibom and the Nigerian boundary with Cameroun attacking fishing trawlers, captains and crew on board.

We had also reported that owners and captains of fishing trawlers are being forced to pay ransom raging from N10million to N20million every month to ensure their safety. 

But charging the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Command, Rear Admiral I. B. Acholonu who paid him a courtesy visit, the governor confirmed that the state still faces attacks on waterways. “We still have difficulties because of pirates and armed robbers. You need to cleanse your system and water”, he pleaded with the Navy boss. 

According to him, those who are now threatening aquatic activities in the state can no longer be treated as militants but as armed robbers. The Navy will no longer be fighting militants who have surrendered their weapons to the Federal Government but with the pirates and robbers.  

“Any straggler in the sea could not be called militant but a criminal because militants have surrendered their weapons.
A source had confirmed payment of security fess by trawler owners in that story saying that: “Payment of ransom is not new here, our Captains go to meet them to negotiate with these people and we are forced to pay between N10 million and N20milllion monthly as security fee before fishing activities can go on”.
President of Nigerian Merchant Navy and Water Transport Senior Staff  Association, Captain Thomas Kemewerigha had also confirmed the development to Shipping Position Weekly, saying that militants have created camps along the nautical miles leading to Qua Iboe, Akwa Ibom and Nigeria’s border with Cameroun, but added that there was nothing the union could do in the face of the upsurge except to appeal to the government and let them understand that the militants have only left Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta state to terrorise helpless seafarers.
Shipping Position Weekly had also reported the fear that was expressed by the vice chairman, Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), Mrs Margaret Orakwusi who confirmed that “the attacks have been intensified in spite of the so called amnesty that is going on”.
According to her, “some of them (the militants) have discovered that it is a good avenue for them to make quick money, they are not relenting at all, the attacks have continued and I am surprised that there is no reduction in spite of the amnesty that the government has extended to them. The solution is not asking them to drop their arms and giving them money, but in providing them with alternative means of livelihood”, she had stressed.
She had also refused to divulge the identities of the vessels that had been attacked in recent times, saying: “I don’t want to say more than this, our vessels are still out there and I don’t want to expose them to more attacks”.  
Earlier Navy chief had told the Governor that he was in the state as part of his tour around all the formations in the coastal areas.


Related Posts

ECOWAS Electricity Agency Assures Of Stable, Affordable Power Across W/Africa From 2023

FG Urges Entrepreneurs To Embrace ECOWAS Trade Scheme

May 19, 2023
Nigeria Targets Over $500 Million From Cashew Export

Weekly Global Marine Incidents May 8, 2023

May 8, 2023
Stock Exchange Closes Week With 24 Gainers 27 Losers

Stock Exchange Closes Week With 24 Gainers 27 Losers

May 1, 2023
Investors Buyout Norwegian Car Carriers from Klaveness

Investors Buyout Norwegian Car Carriers from Klaveness

May 1, 2023

Discussion about this post

Latest News

AfCFTA: Kenya To Scrap Visa Fees For Africa Traders

AfCFTA: Kenya To Scrap Visa Fees For Africa Traders

June 1, 2023

Customs Initiates New Fast Track Method For Compliant Importers

NEITI Hails Fuel Subsidy Removal, Offers 8 Strategic Considerations

Officer of the Order of the Niger: For Hassan Bello, It’s A Honour Well Deserved

ANLCA Chieftain Urges Tinubu To Review Import Duty, Levy on Tokunbo Vehicles

FG Must Recognise Freight Forwarding Profession –  Dr Farinto

Nigeria’s Porous Border Makes Case for Customs Modernization Project

FG Eyes $4bn From Abuja, Kano Airports Concession

Container Shipping Still Poised For Profitability In 2023

Vessels Expected at Lagos Ports as at 30th May, 2023

Nigeria Stock Exchange Closes Week With 42 Gainers 12 Losers

Rate Hike: Expect Higher Prices, MAN, NECA Warn CBN

kindly like our Facebook page

Health

FG To Place 80% Hypertensive Nigerians On Standard Treatment
Health

FG To Place 80% Hypertensive Nigerians On Standard Treatment

May 22, 2023

The Federal Government said it has instituted strategic interventions at the Tertiary, Secondary, and Primary Health Care levels to screen...

High Blood Pressure Explained

High Blood Pressure Explained

May 22, 2023
Some Impressive Health Benefits Of Onions That May Interest You

Some Impressive Health Benefits Of Onions That May Interest You

May 22, 2023
Failed IVF Cycles Not End Of Parenthood Journey

Failed IVF Cycles Not End Of Parenthood Journey

May 15, 2023
COVID-19: Fifth Wave Looms As Nigeria Records Three Deaths In One Week

COVID-19: Nigeria Embarks On Integrated Health Emergency

May 15, 2023
Some Health Benefits Of Eating Groundnuts (Peanuts)

Some Health Benefits Of Eating Groundnuts (Peanuts)

May 15, 2023
BEWARE: Too Much Sex Is Bad For You!

DANGER: Why Sudden Death Happens During Sex – Expert

May 8, 2023
Five Early Warning Signs Of Pancreatic Cancer That Could Save A Life

Five Early Warning Signs Of Pancreatic Cancer That Could Save A Life

May 8, 2023
All You Need To Know About Snoring

All You Need To Know About Snoring

May 1, 2023
Salt: Why You Need It, How Much Is Too Much, and How to Cut Back

Salt: Why You Need It, How Much Is Too Much, and How to Cut Back

May 1, 2023

© 2021 Shippingposition

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Coast To Coast
  • Oil and Gas
  • Maritime Education
  • The Terminals
  • Maritime safety

© 2021 Shippingposition