The Nigerian Navy has pulled out of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that it entered into with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), owing to what the Navy referred to as the need to retrace its step.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed authoritatively last week that the Navy/NIMASA ‘marriage’ that was consummated about five years ago has broken down irretrievably.
The Nigerian Navy has pulled out of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that it entered into with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), owing to what the Navy referred to as the need to retrace its step.
Shipping Position Daily confirmed authoritatively last week that the Navy/NIMASA ‘marriage’ that was consummated about five years ago has broken down irretrievably.
Although, our correspondent could not reach spokespersons of both agencies, it was however confirmed that the Chief of Naval staff, Vice Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim had told close lieutenants shortly after a visit by the director general of NIMASA, Mr Ziakede Apobolokemi to the Navy headquarters that the deal has to be terminated.
Shipping Position Daily however confirmed that the collapse of the MoU may not be unconnected with recent developments concerning the security of the nation’s maritime domain which was recently contracted to a private company.
Prior to the latest development, NIMASA has pushed for a rejuvenation of the MoU, a desire that was highlighted by the NIMASA boss during the visit, when he led members of the Agency’s Management team on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Naval Staff, at the Defence Headquaters in Abuja where the discussions on the issue were held.
Akpobolokemi had told the naval chief that NIMASA’s desire to improve on the partnership with the Navy is based on the level of success recorded by the Maritime Guard Command Unit, a direct product of the existing MoU which domicile the unit in NIMASA.
He had described the creation of that MoU; the Maritime Guard Command as quite professional and responsive to its duties as specified under the MoU adding that the officers and men of the command have demonstrated commendable commitment to their job without allowing distractions to derail their work.
But our sources hinted that the disclosure by Akpobolokemi that NIMASA had deployed five patrol boats in the Lagos anchorage for five months as a pilot scheme, the rate of sea robbery and piracy in the area have reduced drastically did not sway Admiral Ibrahim.
It couldn’t be confirmed if the Maritime Guard Command has been disbanded, but our correspondent learnt that naval personnel have been withdrawn from NIMASA.
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