Comrade Peter Ojelatan (Water transporter, Liverpool)
We have the marine police and we have this Naval task force, if they are well equipped with all the necessary gadgets and there is constant patrol on the waters, it will be better. Also, the use of the cameras on the water is also advisable just as Governor Fashola is trying to propose in order to see every activity going on. I think the Navy and the marine police are trying but they still need to put in more efforts, Presently there is a curfew on Lagos waters which to me is totally unacceptable because we have more than 17 riverside communities within this axis alone and their only means of transportation is the speed boat and the wooden boats. Some of these people are equally working at far distances like Ikeja and Ikoyi, the boats activity affects them and the boats also provide support services to vessels on the high sea too.
Usman Sanusi (President NAGAFF)
Safety and security in our water ways is critical to national security and economic stability. Lawful activities in our waterways need to be encouraged and protected. Although on a global leve, the IMO through the SOLAS Convention has provided a comprehensive plan for securing navigable waterways, this however does not prevent states from making additional regulations.
NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy should take the lead and work closely with relevant MDA’s and critical stakeholders to ensure adequate and functional security of our waterways. The ability to collaboratively gather and analyze information, detect anomalies and identify maritime threat is quite necessary for national survival.
Emmanuel O. Jacobs (Special Assistant to CEO, Sifax)
It is unfortunate that different things are happening as a result of the laxity of the part of selected agencies that are supposed to police the water ways but are not doing their job. For instance, the primary work of the navy is not only external but also to secure the internal waterways, they are supposed to be the primary security agent responsible for such, coupled with all other agencies created by the government, like NIMASA, NIWA, and the marine police.
Closing down the waterways is not the solution because this will have negative impact economically; instead, all the agencies in charge should wake up to their responsibilities. I know the government is trying its best but they will still want to tell you that they lack personnel and tools to carry out their jobs.
Sampson Chima (Asst. Registrar, NIS)
The most important thing is that there should be 24-hour surveillance on the internal waterways especially the Lagos waters which is very vulnerable due to different activities; number one is the attack on Atlas cove which really showed that there is no security on the waters. If the government decides to impose a curfew, it will really tell on the residents of these villages around the creeks, government should just intensify security on the waterways by buying more patrol boats for day and night patrolling. We have the marine police and the navy as well as other agencies that can do the job, let them continue with the system they use in operating before by stopping and searching boats.
Omaga Pius (CIS)
The Nigerian situation is peculiar, despite the fact that the naval personnel are doing their job, we still need to get many of the youths living in riverside communities engaged and employed because there is no amount of security that is too much, and in doing this all hands must be on deck. That is why we have different professional maritime institutions, if the youths see better offers of employment; they won’t get into kidnapping and all other forms of crime on he waters. I think government should liaise with professional maritime bodies so that they can reorientate the indigenes of riverside communities and let them know that there are better opportunities.
Ajape Ismail (Maritime Consultant)
I think government should meet with NIMASA, Navy and NIWA to find a lasting solution to these problems or privatize NIWA in order to see them in action because right now they are not performing.
Otunba Kunle Folarin(Seafarers Welfare Board)
Considering the existing arrangement, where government through some agencies is in charge of our waterways, I think a lot still need to be done.
Policing the internal water ways is very much different from policing territorial waters.
The inter waterways should be policed by marine police, custom’s marine and the NIWA, while the territorial waters is policed by the Navy.
However NIMASA is in the best position to police our territorial ways, since they’ve been in charge, they should collaborate with the Navy and in the process be well equipped to work assiduously on how best to improve and secure our water ways.
The state governments too should meet with bodies involved in policing the internal waterways and dialogue on the means to make our waterways safe and secure, because they are in the best position to proffer solutions to this situation.
Mr Isah Suwaid (NPA, Public Affairs Dept)
The coastal water way is very important to the country, it’s vulnerable if the waterways are not guided well enough and it’s prone to dangers as loopholes will encourage attack from enemies. Efforts are being made to secure a maritime security bill which I am sure will make provisions for an agency to see to the issue of security on our water ways as well as monitoring activities on the water ways to alert the appropriate quarters in case of an attack.
An agency should be put in place on time, and also should be well equipped for the safety of our water ways, collaboration of state government should encouraged on our water ways, as they also need to play an important role.
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