Security experts have faulted Nigeria’s over-reliance on the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, describing it as insufficient to address the complexities of maritime threats.
This position follows the recent arrest of three suspects by the Nigerian Navy for allegedly providing unauthorized armed escort services aboard a fishing trawler in Bayelsa waters.
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, under the Central Naval Command, had earlier revealed the arrest of the captain of a fishing trawler, Olokun VIII, along with two armed individuals identified as members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). The suspects were intercepted during a boarding operation conducted by Forward Operating Base FORMOSO on March 9, 2025.
Speaking on the incident, President of the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN), Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, blamed Nigeria’s failure to establish a holistic maritime security framework as the underlying cause of the rising trend of illegal security operations in the maritime domain.
Citing international conventions, Maiguwa noted that SOLAS Chapter XI-1 empowers member states of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to adopt measures beyond the ISPS Code to suit their specific security needs. According to him, Nigeria’s narrow implementation of the ISPS Code has created dangerous security gaps.
“It is a fallacy to think that ISPS Code alone is the instrument that will secure our maritime spaces,” Maiguwa said. “Perhaps with the signing of the Marine and Blue Economy policy, if the relevant provision remains in the final draft, NIMASA can then develop a proper framework that defines the maritime security scope and licenses companies accordingly.”
Maiguwa stressed that the absence of a defined system has created a ‘free-for-all’ atmosphere, where vessel owners resort to unconventional methods to protect their assets.
“When there is a legitimate demand for security services and the government fails to provide a structured and legitimate process for supply, a black market emerges. And history has shown that black markets, often run by organized crime, are almost impossible to dismantle once they become entrenched,” he warned.
Corroborating this view, former Senior Special Assistant to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Maritime Affairs, Gbenga Leke Oyewole, expressed dismay over the development, describing the deployment of OPC members as armed escorts on a commercial vessel as a “very sad and dangerous precedent.”
“I don’t know what OPC will be doing on board a ship. That is a serious breach. They should be treated as miscreants or pirates. The vessel operator and owner must also be held liable for contracting such unqualified personnel,” Oyewole stated.
He further questioned the regulatory oversight of maritime agencies, particularly the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
“How did the ship get cleared? Was there any form of rummaging by Customs? Who registered the OPC members as crew? These are fundamental questions that demand answers,” Oyewole queried.
Oyewole, however, cautioned against licensing private maritime security companies, arguing that the responsibility for securing Nigeria’s maritime territory lies solely with the Nigerian Navy.
“It is the mandate of the Navy to guard Nigeria’s territorial integrity. I don’t think the Navy would be comfortable sharing that responsibility. If this is happening, then it means the Navy has unofficially ceded its role, which I doubt the Federal Government would permit under any guise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Commander of NNS SOROH, Commodore Omobamidele Akinbami, through his Executive Officer, Navy Capt. Jerry Ayim-Odu, confirmed the discovery of a G3 assault rifle, a pump-action shotgun, and several rounds of ammunition aboard the intercepted fishing trawler. He said the suspects had fired shots to intimidate local fishermen prior to their arrest.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigation and possible prosecution, in line with Naval Headquarters directives.
Commodore Akinbami warned vessel operators against engaging in criminal acts or contracting unlicensed security escorts, insisting that the Navy will not tolerate unlawful possession of firearms or other illegal maritime activities.
“Seafarers are urged to remain law-abiding at all times. The Nigerian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of our maritime environment,” he said.
