Last Monday’s collision involving two tanker vessels; MT Tank and MT Elixir leading to unconfirmed number of casualties has continued to generate more revelations and controversies.
Last Monday’s collision involving two tanker vessels; MT Tank and MT Elixir leading to unconfirmed number of casualties has continued to generate more revelations and controversies.
The latest revelation is coming from a brother to one of the missing crew members on board MT Tank; Engineer Imade Salami Augustine who alleged in a chat with journalists on Monday in Lagos that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) failed to show up at the scene of the incident for immediate search and rescue, even as he lampooned the agency for allegedly not carrying out proper investigations.
Imade who is brother to Malcolm Salami who is currently missing as a result of the accident, added that NIMASA’s failure to show up on time aggravated the casualty figure.
"My brother Malcolm Salami and one of the survivors who both jumped overboard at the same time, said for three hours they were still talking to each other at sea and being that the incident occurred at 1am in the night and actually from the information, we gathered that NIMASA did not come for search and rescue until after the three days of the incident".
He added that the situation was pathetic considering the fact that NIMASA is supposed to be present round the clock at sea, pointing out that : "I don't think the accident would have occurred if there were a proper look out by the watch man on board", Imade added.
He also explained that, contrary to NIMASA’s earlier claim, it was the other ship that was involved in the accident; MT Elixir that was able to assist to rescue the survivors.
Apart from that, owners of the ill-fated tanker; Twinstomp Energy Limited has also alleged that NIMASA may have been involved in some form of conspiracy for failing to involve the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Navy in its investigations.
Managing Director, Twinstomp Energy Limited Tosin Kolawole in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Lagos, is demanding for explanation why the apex maritime regulatory agency has decided to bar the Nigeria Navy and Police from the matter.
He recalled that in 2013,in a similar case involving two vessels; namely MT Niki C and MT Charon which collided, NIMASA failed to carry out any investigation.
According to him, the incident in 2013 was successfully buried by NIMASA and other government agencies.
Speaking further, Kolawole disclosed that NIMASA is even threatening to allow the vessel involved in the latest accident; MT Elixir to sail out of the country, adding that once such happens, it will mark the end of the matter.
"As soon as the incident was brought to our attention on Monday 19th October 2015, we delivered petitions to all relevant law enforcement agencies including the police and navy"
"These agencies have made attempts to go into the matter but NIMASA has not made that a possibility"
"As a matter of fact, all the steps been taken indicate some sinister motives on the part of NIMASA towards a cover up end"
He said his company was not satisfied with the level of corporation given so far by NIMASA.
He said NIMASA should ensure a thorough investigation by agencies of government saddled with the responsibility rather than do a unilateral investigation.
Kolawole requested that the Police, the Navy and possibly the Nigerian Army be involved in carrying out the investigation.
He said that the foreign vessel, MT Elixir, which is far bigger than the MT Tank, should not be allowed to sail out of Nigerian waters until justice was done.
"This is not the first time incidence of this nature happened on our waters because bigger foreign vessels come within our waterways, recklessly and maliciously wreaking havoc on us"
"Ship accidents have been orchestrated, leading to loss of Nigerian lives"
"A recent occurrence was on the 21st December 2013 when MT Niki C a foreign vessel and MT Charon collided"
"Two Nigerian crew were killed in the process and till date, no investigation was carried out by NIMASA, Police and the Navy despite that it was reported"
"The case has been successfully buried by NIMASA, the ship owner and the deceased family members wallow in sorrow”, he stated.
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