Nigerian Seafarers have reiterated the call for the establishment of a Coast Guard as a panacea for the rising cases of sea robbery and piracy on Nigeria waters.
The seafarers under the aegis of Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association however solicited the engagement of sea robbers as operatives of the proposed agency.
Nigerian Seafarers have reiterated the call for the establishment of a Coast Guard as a panacea for the rising cases of sea robbery and piracy on Nigeria waters.
The seafarers under the aegis of Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association however solicited the engagement of sea robbers as operatives of the proposed agency.
President of the association, Captain Thomas Kemewerigha gave this advice yesterday at the flag- off a two- day seminar and training on maritime piracy – a humanitarian response for West and Centre Africa in Lagos.
Kemewerigha said that the Nigerian seafarers work day and night in the interest of the country without protection which in turn makes them vulnerable in the hands of the sea robbers, adding that the Nigeria Navy has failed the nation with the incessant attack on seafarers which in most cases has led to loss of lives and properties.
The seafarers’ president also called on the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency [NIMASA] and other relevant stakeholders in the maritime sector to assist the seafarers in the area of welfare to meet the challenges.
Apparently not satisfied with the levity which pirates and sea robbers enjoy, he called for the introduction of special courts to try offenders. ‘’I recommend for maritime courts to try sea robbers and other offenders in the maritime sector”, he stated even as he called for the repositioning of the Nigeria Navy for the challenges of sea robbery as well as issuance insurance policy on all crews on board ships.
Earlier in his opening address, Chairman of the National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria, Otunba Kunle Folarin said that the board has been able to provide free training for 21 Nigerians as international committee on seafarers’ welfare [ICSW] license ship visitors’ volunteers.
Otunba Folarin noted that the board has been able to render selfless services to local and foreigner seafarers by learning from the differences that exist between the nationalities of the seafarers.
He said that the welfare of seafarers has been a major problem adding that the outcome of the deliberation has been developed in order to assist government and organizations on how address the welfare of seafarers.
According to him, “as part of our resolution , members were encouraged to contribute in any way they could be encouraging and supporting government as well as organizations in their respective countries to take steps towards addressing the piracy issues and to provide concrete steps towards implementing seafarers welfare issue’’.
He however commended NIMASA in the area of combating piracy in the Gulf of Guinea in partnership with countries in the region. “It is worthy to note that the tremendous effort of NIMASA who has been very active in combating maritime piracy in the Gulf of Guinea in collaboration with countries in the region notably Benin Republic which has contributed in ensuring that this menace will not only reduced, but totally eliminated in our territorial waters”, he stated.
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