Engineer Matthew Alalade is the national president of Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association. In this chat with correspondent; Roland Ekama, he talked about pirate attack on Nigeria waters and ways to address the menace. He also shed light on the MLC 2006, what the future holds for the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) and other maritime sundry issues.
We still record cases of pirate attacks on vessels on our waters, what can you make of it?
Engineer Matthew Alalade is the national president of Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association. In this chat with correspondent; Roland Ekama, he talked about pirate attack on Nigeria waters and ways to address the menace. He also shed light on the MLC 2006, what the future holds for the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) and other maritime sundry issues.
We still record cases of pirate attacks on vessels on our waters, what can you make of it?
We still have cases of attack on our waters, but you will agree with me that it has reduced to a large extent, when compared to some five or seven years ago, courtesy the Navy, NIMASA and of recent again the Nigerian Air Force; although we are observing our domain in that regard because it is the spill-over of unemployment that has led to piracy on our waters. But all the same, the maritime agencies are doing their best to address the issue, again the government is also trying its best to provide and empower the boys from that region in their own little way. You also recall that more than 1000 youths from that region have been sent abroad from manpower development programme for the sole aim of reducing piracy and to also create an enabling environment for them to get engaged after a certain period. I know the government will overcome the issue of piracy on our waters because it is not a one day thing, rather it is a gradual process; globally there are cases of pirate attack on vessels here and there; so we know that the MOU signed by some government agencies; like NIMASA, Air Force and Navy will go a long way to reduce piracy on our waters.
Apart from the MOU by the three agencies, what else do you think can be done to stop piracy or sea robbery?
First of all, the high rate of unemployment within the riverine communities gave rise to piracy on our waters, then on the part of our agencies; I think they should man those waterfronts with armed security operatives and also what is most important is that they should involve the locals in their operations. Because the indigenes of the communities can fish out the bad eggs who engage themselves in this act, so for me I think the involvement of some local is of essence to address piracy, this is aside the security agencies that patrol our waters. If the government can involve the youths of the communities to help fight piracy then I think such cases of attacks on vessels will experience a lull, even such cases of attack are gradually going down. The locals are well informed about those that are into the business and they go for those guys as at when due, but it still boils down to government to engage them directly. I will advice NIMASA to involve those guys because it is a very good mode to curb piracy on our domain.
Between the fishing trawlers and tankers which one is more prone to attack from your records?
From our records, it’s the fishing trawlers, although there is also attack on tanker vessels on our waters, but the trawlers are attacked mostly. But the fact still remains that the security forces have done very well in that regard because attack on vessels this year has dropped significantly when compared to last year and the year after. From our record, pirate attacks on vessels have dropped and that is a fact because we have our record to show for it. The agencies have tried. The ones we have now are mere spill-over and I believe the war will soon be over as regards robbery at sea.
Is it proper to say that the MOU between the three agencies of government is welcome development?
Yes it is, because overtime we have been clamouring for such a thing to take place so that our waters can safe and secured to a large extent. You will agree with me that air surveillance will help to provide quick responses on a distress vessel at sea. The Air Force will help to increase the tempo in curbing security on our water abruptly. It is a welcome development, it shows that NIMASA is listening to our cry under this present dispensation and truly the Air Force is a complementary measure of addressing piracy on our waters.
In your own opinion, is the National Seafarers Devolvement Programme a success or failure?
I will say it is not yet a success until we get the first batch out of school. Partially it won't be fair on my part to pass verdict on the programme until we see the products. If after the completion of their respective courses overseas, then there is job for them to do, that becomes a pass mark automatically.
Do you think there are jobs available for the students after completion of the training programmes?
I think am not in a position to provide such answer, because I am not in government and I don't know what the government has in stock for them, but truly I believe the future is bright for them all, because even though there are no jobs in Nigeria as the case may be, there are jobs outside the shores of Nigeria. Above all, we are clamouring for our own national carrier because with our own fleet in place, the issue of employment for our seafarers will be tackled. A national carrier in place will complement the training of seafarers; both locally and internationally, just like we had in the days of NNSL. If we don't have our own training vessels and we don't have training ships for the cadets, where are they going to work after the schooling?
A former DG of NIMASA once said that cadets sent abroad for training may unlike return to Nigeria since there is no job for seafarers; do you agree with him?
Things like that does happen because it is up to the cadets to decide where they want to work except there is an agreement between them and the government on where they will work after their respective programmes overseas, at times after the successful training overseas, they will just decide to stay back and get engaged by the foreigners.
What have been your achievements so far since you took over from Captain Thomas Kemewerigha?
I don't think I am the right person to respond to this question because it won't be fair for me to tell the world that I have been able to record some level of success or not since I took over from Captain Thomas and I think my members are in the right position to tell you if I have performed well or not. But from my own take, I know we are meeting the government and things are working out for good. You will also recall that the DG NIMASA has assured Nigerians on the acquisition of vessels before the end of the year, that alone shows that there will jobs for our members. On the part of NNPC, they have also impacted positively on some of our members and it is a plus for the government and the association. Overtime we do engage NIMASA and the government on issues bothering our members and they are responding to our yearnings.
Tell us some of the challenges faced by the association?
We have numerous challenges with the indigenous ship owners and manning agents in the area of job placement. But I believe that with the MLC 2006, which has been implemented and ratified, I think very soon it is going to be a thing of the past, because it is a tripartite arrangement between the government, ship owners and seafarers. Therefore I believe there will some level of changes on some of the problems we are faced with. We expect the ship owners to comply with MLC 2006 because it is an international regulation.
There has been a shortage of master mariner as we speak and how do you think such challenges can be addressed?
There is no way we can have young mariners if we don't have vessels for training. Other countries of the world have their own vessels that take care of their seafarers. Without vessels in place, there is no way that gap can be addressed. It’s not all about training of seafarers alone, we need to look inwardly on how to acquire vessels to get them the technical know how about the profession. We are losing our quota to foreigners and even as we speak we are losing our revenue to the foreigners as well. We are still appealing to the government to acquire vessels for Nigerian seafarers.
There have been allegations that most of the ships owned by indigenous operations are not in class, what is your perception about that?
The truth is that some of the vessels are truly not in class. If they can be able to put their vessels in class, then there will be room to maintain their vessels. The problem with our indigenous operators is that they want to be the sole owners of everything. They want to be in charge of the seafarers, they want to handle insurance etc, but in Europe there is division of labour. There is no way a ship owner can succeed when you want to be in charge of everything.
The MLC 2006 kick started in June, what can we make of it so far?
It is too early to make comment on that, although the MLC is a tripartite agreement, some ship owners are still adamant to comply, but by next year we believe that they will comply.
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