PIRACY: NIMASA Arrests 244 Vessels In Two Years

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has said that in the last two years, it arrested 244 vessels for offences ranging from piracy to sea robbery and other illegal vices on the nation’s waters.

Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi gave this revelation last weekend at the ground-breaking ceremony of the NIMASA Dockyard/Shipyard facility, and the Maritime University; both at Okerenkoko, Warri South, Delta State.

Akpobolokemi said that the collaboration of the agency with the Nigerian Navy as well as other security agencies has helped it to maintain and sustain physical presence in all the remote areas of Nigeria's maritime domain.

The NIMASA boss equally said that through the partnership, the powers of the agency to enforce compliance to the Cabotage Act have increased.

He pointed out that as a result of the physical patrol of the waters, incidences of security breaches have continued to decline in both frequency and scale of success.

"The last two years of our acquiring operational and enforcement capability has led to the arrest of over 244 vessels. Their offences range from piracy and sea robbery, economic sabotage, illicit activities to non-compliance with regulatory regimes and evasion of statutory levy payment"

"Our activities in the area of Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) have got a significant boost through our improved enforcement capability"

"NIMASA as a Maritime Administration (MARAD) with coastal, flag and port state responsibilities is now able to physically patrol, monitor, enforce and where necessary interdict suspect and vessels that breach our maritime laws" he said.

He assured that the agency is still working hard to ensure that it establishes and maintains its physical presence in all remote areas of Nigeria's maritime domain.

He assured that all programmes and activities of the agency are geared towards improving Nigeria's fortune in the maritime sector.