The Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) is seeking technical collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to recommend Nigeria’s anti-piracy law to other member countries.
Dr Paul Adalikwu, the Secretary General of MOWCA, made this known on Monday in Lagos during a visit to Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of NIMASA.
Adalikwu also lauded the gains recorded by Nigeria in suppressing maritime crimes which led to the country’s removal from the list of high risk maritime countries.
He described the country’s Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, as an effective legislation.
He noted that the legislation had redefined the fight against maritime crimes in the country.
“MOWCA will showcase the Act for other member countries to remodel their anti-piracy laws to achieve harmonisation and cohesion in the drive for a safer and secured maritime domain in the sub regions.
“Countries like Gambia, Cameroon and others in MOWCA have requested, through his office, for technical collaboration to further develop their respective maritime administrations,” he said.
Adalikwu said a total of 10 countries had signed up for the charter of the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB) that would be launched in Abuja soon.
He said that MOWCA had a new strategic plan with an organogram covering the four departments provided for in its charter of establishment.
Responding, Jamoh described the MOWCA as one keeping to the promises Nigeria made during the campaigns in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and Accra, Ghana in the run up to the election.
The NIMASA boss also urged Adalikwu to synchronise his economic plan with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, particularly in the area of maritime trade and provision of reliable statistical shipping data.
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“MOWCA as an international organisation used to be helpful in availing maritime industry experts and professionals with information on country by country cargo tonnage to appraise the level of trade in the region.
“There is a need for stronger MOWCA presence in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), being a body representing 25 maritime countries with critical impact in global maritime trade,” he said.
Jamoh said his agency was willing to release professional, technical and highly competent personnel to MOWCA in line with the request by Adalikwu to enable him achieve his objectives for the 47-year-old organisation.
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