High level of insecurity on Nigerian waterways worries Buhari

ABIOLA Seun |

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Monday said President Muhammadu Buhari is still studying how best to implement the Integrated Waterways Surveillance System designed to secure Nigerian territorial waters.

Speaking to journalists against the backdrop of insecurity at the Eastern Ports on the sideline of the recently concluded Seafarers’ Day tagged, Seafarers’ Well-being, the Director -General of the agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside said the implementation of the surveillance system would put an end to criminal activities on the nations’ territorial water.

He said, ”You know the Federal Executive Council has approved Integrated Waterways Surveillance System and Mr President is looking at it and looking at how best to implement it.

“Also, when implemented, it will curb the current insecurity not only within Niger-Delta but within our territorial waters so, we are focused on it because piracy is an issue of concern and it is getting desired attention.”

The DG also disclosed that insecurity was not the only challenge causing non-viability of eastern ports.

“It is not only security concern that affected the Eastern ports- that is port of Rivers, Delta and perhaps Calabar port. For instance, Calabar port has other issue apart from security threat. Rivers Port has other issues safe for Delta port.

“But what are we doing to address the security concern is that NIMASA introduced the total spectrum maritime strategy and we are getting support from the federal executive council and Mr President.

“We are doing that from a four point perspective, we are investing in the acquisition of assets including patrol asset to prevent these criminals from patrolling our waterways including response vessels and the rest of that.

“We are also acquiring assets to carry out maritime ariel patrol and of course, we are also investing in intelligence. Our satellite system has come on board and we are working with Nigerian Navy falcon eye surveillance system.

“We are embarking on acquiring unmanned area vehicles to man our area vehicles. We are looking at the legal aspect of fighting piracy, we are calling for the passage of anti-piracy bills, we are working with our regional partners and we are also working with Nigerian Navy, Air Force, marine police,” he disclosed.