Piracy: Reps Angry with Navy for Demanding $50,000 to Provide Security for Vessels
The House of Representatives Tuesday expressed anger against the Nigerian Navy for demanding $50,000 to escort vessels on the nation’s waters to their destination.
The legislators also expressed anger on the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for failing to address security issues on the territorial waters.
Ships & Ports reports that the allegations are contained in the report of an ad hoc committee set up by the House to investigate why the Warri, Port Harcourt, Onne, Calabar and Onitsha ports are not being put to maximum use.
According to the report, the House mandated its Committee on Finance to investigate the utilisation of the three percent freight charges collected by NIMASA in the last ten years having failed to ensure the safety of the waterways.
Members of the House of House had while adopting the report of the Committee Tuesday during plenary called on the Federal Government to give a directive the Navy to ensure that the nation’s waterways are adequately guarded.
The House also want the federal government to direct the Navy to partner with other countries in the Gulf of Guinea Commission to be able to check criminal activities.
The legislators also want the federal government implement the suppression of piracy and other maritime offences act fully since it provides for a legal framework to wage war against piracy.
The lawmakers were of the view that the federal, state governments and communities should collaborate to check piracy and other armed robbery on waterways.
The House also asked the Nigerian Ports Authority to review its lease fees and charges which will in turn lead to reduction on port charges in other ports as a way of attracting ships.
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