The Director General of the Nigerian
Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr.
Dakuku Peterside has assured the international shipping community and
stakeholders of the country's determination to eliminate piracy and criminality
within her territorial waters.
The Director General who said this
while addressing multilateral and development agencies on the sidelines of the
on-going IMO/MOWCA sponsored integrated sub regional coast Guard function
network in Brussels, Belgium also noted that Nigeria is working with both local
and international counter piracy partners to eliminate criminality on her
waterways.
According to the DG, “we have a
close working relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes
(UNODC) in order to foster an integrated approach to dealing with the menace.
We have also increased surveillance and have deployed world class maritime
domain awareness assets in conjunction with the Nigeria Navy and the Nigeria
Ports Authority to monitor our maritime environment".
Dr Peterside said that in addition,
the country has deployed Maritime Patrol Aircraft’s (MPA) in collaboration with
the Nigerian Air Force as well as other naval assets to patrol and monitor the
country’s waterways.
The DG observed that as a signatory
to all IMO instruments and regulations relating to maritime security, Nigeria
is committed to their compliance in order to eliminate piracy and criminality
on the high seas.
He also said that Nigeria is mindful
of the serious risk posed by piracy and maritime crimes to life, navigational
safety and the environment saying this is why NIMASA is strengthening the
Regional Rescue Coordination Centre located in the country as well as enhance
information sharing activities.
Responding to questions on rising
cases of militancy in the Niger Delta region of the country, Dr Peterside said
Nigeria is adopting a multifaceted approach to deal with the challenge and
assured the international shipping community that it is being tackled.
He urged the maritime community to
draw a distinction between criminality, piracy and militancy reiterating that
Nigeria is safe for shipping and other commercial activities in the maritime
sector.
Dr. Peterside appealed to international
development agencies to work with Nigeria in resolving maritime security
challenges in the nation because of its strategic position to the overall
maritime development in the continent given the size of her economy, population
and geographical location.
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