NIMASA read riot Act to maritime stakeholders, detains 3 ships for unlawful acts

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NIMASA

From Benjamin a ameh, lagos

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) at the weekend, rolled out drums of warning that Nigeria may henceforth detain, any vessels entering the country’s water, with their security ‘guards’, whether armed or unarmed.

The warnings came, as the agency detains three vessels, the LILAC VICTORIA, UACC EAGLE and the MORGANE because each of them sailed into Nigeria, with individuals, linked to private security firms’ overseas, offering training on the use of weapons.

Speaking on the issue, agency Director of Shipping Development, Captain Warredi Enisuoh said the management was uncomfortable that vessels with high probability of entering Nigeria with disposable arms or ammunitions were beginning to sail in, shortly after the agency and other sisterly agencies had cleansed the Nigerian waters of scourges like sea robbery, piracy, ship theft.

Describing it as “a new threat” that now “looms over the horizon with possible far reaching consequences”, Captain Enisuoh therefore warned also, the Ship operators, cargo owners, ship agents, amongst others, as resultant interventions and delays may lead to possible forfeiture of their ships and cargo to the Federal Government.

In his words: Private registered security firms in collusion with unscrupulous officials have embarked on unconstitutional MOUs and partnerships that threaten our National Security.

“NIMASA has embarked on tackling this problem as it seem to be gaining tacit support underground, as they even know local lawyers that will get them off the hook. There is no doubt that they come with arms hidden within the ship or throw them overboard when threatened with a search.

“The weapons they come with may possibly have could be sold or handed over to others at night while in Nigerian waters. This could well threaten the peace and calm we enjoy in our waters with a possible spill over into land, with a far more devastating effect.

“The agency is therefore sounding a note of warning that any vessel that comes in to Nigeria with a foreign guard whether caught armed or unarmed will be detained and no cargo operation of any kind will be allowed, while NIMASA works with other sister agencies on the next step of actions to take.

“Ship operators, cargo owners, ship agents, etc. are hereby warned of the delays or possible forfeiture of their ships and cargo to the Federal Government, while those nationals will face the wrath of our laws”, the agency concluded, stressing that those already detained, were likely to be British Nationals linked to private security firms overseas, specialized in giving trainings in the use of weapons, amongst others, having boarded the ships in Ghanaian, or Cote D’Ivoire via flights from Europe, claiming to unarmed but coming to.


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