NIMASA, Navy partnership has not abated spike in pirate attacks—Merchant Naval Officer

Segun Oladipupo

A marine Engineer and merchant Naval Officer, Matthew Alalade, has decried the unabated pirate attacks on Nigerian waters despite the age-long strategic partnership between the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Navy.

Comrade Alalade, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, lamented the rising cases of piracy, especially in the Gulf of Guinea and called for a change in strategy if government wishes to deal with this menace effectively.

He expressed worries over what he described as the spate of attacks on vessels and crew in recent time.

Alalade therefore called on NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy to re-invigorate their partnership in order to rid the region of the incessant attacks which he said had risen in the past six months.

He further noted that security on the nation’s territorial waters has not changed from what it was in the past.

He attributed the high rate of unemployment in the country as a major factor responsible for the attackers going into such criminal act, adding that the menace is creating negative impact on the maritime industry.

His words, “I think on security issues, the management of NIMASA led by Dr. Jamoh needs to wake up because on a weekly basis, we get report from our members on how pirates and sea robbers attack ships and even kidnap crew on board.

“Just last week, a FPSO vessel was attacked and up till now, no reported case of its release.

According to him, there are cases of unreported attacks on fishing trawlers within the territorial waters, adding that kidnapping of crew onboard such ships are on the increase .

“I believe this menace is on the increase within the Gulf of Guinea. The Navy is responsibility for security in the region and such attack should be tracked by them in swift response.

“Our worries is that the security level at sea has not changed from what it was in the past.

The ex-Merchant Navy union boss reiterated that the synergy between the NIMASA and the Navy has not yielded the desired results in tackling issues bothering on security .

HE therefore called on the regulatory agency to provide more platforms for the Navy to patrol and police the waterways effectively.