Kunle Kalejaye
28 July 2016, Sweetcrude, Lagos – 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 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 him, “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”.
Peterside said that in addition, the country has deployed Maritime Patrol Aircraft, MPA, in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force as well as the naval assets to patrol and monitor the country’s waterways.
The NIMASA boss 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.