Mkpoikana Udoma
18 November 2018, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt — The Nigerian Police says it has repositioned its men to minimise cases of sea piracy and smuggling of illicit goods around the eastern seaports.
The newly-deployed Assistant Inspector General, AIG, of the eastern port, AIG Abdulmajeed Ali, disclosed this at his maiden press briefing in Port Harcourt, on his assumption as the pioneer AIG of the eastern ports.
Ali said the move by the Federal Government to revive the eastern port led to the posting of an AIG to the port.
He decried the high level of insecurity on the eastern waterways and vowed to engage every stakeholder in the industry to curb criminality, in order for the eastern port to thrive.
“Since I came, I have noticed that activities are more at Onne port than Port Harcourt port here. What we are having is the issue of insecurity at the Port Harcourt port, the threat to the lives of crew members and that is what has actually kept stakeholders away.
“If we put our hands together and synergize with all the security agencies and the community leaders, particularly the youths along that waterside where these ships come in, to stop the piracy and the kidnapping, definitely you will see activities coming up and this is what we intend to do.”
The Assistant Inspector General in charge of the eastern port, disclosed that he will partner with sister agencies to prevent pirate attacks on ports facilities and port users.
He also promised to harness all human and material resources to achieve results through intelligence and community involvement.
“Most especially I intend to partner with NPA and other critical stakeholders like the ports terminal operators, businessmen, eminent persons in the industry, associations, and unions operating in the port.
“Also, I intend to partner with the traditional rulers, the youths of host communities and all the sister agencies, members of the press, all with the view to stem criminal activity and allow eastern ports to thrive,” he said.
