…Says Relationship with NIMASA Still Intact
The Nigerian Navy has said that there has been a major boost in its morale through acquisition of platforms to patrol the nation’s waterways and rid it of piracy and illegal activities.
Even though it did not give the statistics, the navy also revealed that there has been an increase in the number of arrests it has made in connection with illegal operations on Nigerian waters.
…Says Relationship with NIMASA Still Intact
The Nigerian Navy has said that there has been a major boost in its morale through acquisition of platforms to patrol the nation’s waterways and rid it of piracy and illegal activities.
Even though it did not give the statistics, the navy also revealed that there has been an increase in the number of arrests it has made in connection with illegal operations on Nigerian waters.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in his office yesterday, Chief Information Officer of the Western Naval Command, Lt. Cmdr. Olabisi Way said that there has been an increase in supply of platforms for the navy to work with.
Olabisi explained that what has served as a setback for the navy before now is the absence of platforms, but that the current Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Dele Ezeoba has been working hard to make sure that the navy gets enough patrol boats, not only in western command but in all the commands responsible for the security of the waters.
"As the platforms are coming in, we are deploying them into tackling the menace on our waters, so the tempo of policing has now increased"
"This is because we too we are not happy that every time people are complaining"
"We are increasing the tempo because we have some equipment to work with, we have the personnel but if there is no vessel, there is little or nothing that we can do" he told our correspondent.
He assured that more platforms have been ordered and will arriving before the end of the year.
Contrary to insinuations that the partnership between the Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) may have hit the rocks, Olabisi confirmed that it is still working together with NIMASA.
"We are working together every day, we are still partnering together favorably, there could be times we carry out an exercise together, there are some we carry out independently and there are some we carry out jointly, we have a wonderful working relationship" he maintained.
Speaking on the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by NIMASA and the Nigerian Air Force, Olabisi said that there are instances that the air force is useful and that this was why NIMASA recently signed an agreement with them.
He said that as the navy has its own role to play, so does the air force in terms of maritime surveillance, according to him, this will further make NIMASA to work more successfully.
"NIMASA cannot carry out any arrest without the security, they are a civil body"
He explained that the last arrest that was made by the navy was jointly carried out with NIMASA, adding that both agencies equally agreed to brief the press together on the arrests.
"Navy do not seek for cheap publicity, something that we did not do we will not say we did it"
The Navy in Yenagoa has also announced that it has impounded an oil vessel with a 10-member crew, including a Cameroonian national over alleged oil theft.
A statement by the Central Naval Command said the captain of the vessel could not tender relevant documents when he was apprehended.
The vessel was impounded offshore Brass River in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, according to the statement signed by the Command's Operation Officer, Commodore E.O Enemor and made available to newsmen on Sunday.
It said that the crew members were arrested on Sept. 6 aboard a vessel identified as MT Pauline which was laden with loaded over 360,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) suspected to have been stolen.
“The vessel lacked the Nigerian Ports Authority bunkering permit, the certificate of registration with the Joint Military Task Force and the approval for the movement of petroleum products by the Naval Headquarters.
“On Sept. 6 at about 8.00 am, a Naval patrol team from the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Formoso, intercepted and impounded MT Pauline offshore Brass Rivers in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State loaded with over 360,000 litres of diesel.
“Ten crew members made up of 9 Nigerians and a Cameroonian were arrested,'' it said.
The command, however, said investigations had begun into the source of the suspected stolen petroleum product.
It said the arrest and others recorded in the past were a clear indication of the determination of the navy to check oil theft, illegal bunkering and other illegal activities in the area.
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