Shipowners Commend NIMASA on War Against Piracy, Solicit Stakeholders’ Encouragement
MRS ORAKWUSI
By Francis Ugwoke
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been described as being on track as far as the war against piracy is concerned, the Chairman, Shipowners’ Forum, Barr Mrs Margreth Orakwusi has said,
Orakwusi said all the apex maritime agency needs now was a push, necessary support by stakeholders to enable NIMASA succeed in this national project.
In an interview with members of the League of Maritime Editors and Publishers recently, she observed that there has been cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Transportation through NIMASA and the military on the fight against piracy, adding that this is what stakeholders have been advocating for.
She said the deep blue project assets acquired by the agency and the accompanying training programme was a good development since it was Nigerian citizens that are being trained and not foreigners.
She said, “The training cuts across all the armed forces including the Police and Department of State Service (DSS) also, there’s this cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Transportation through Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the military and that’s what we’ve been advocating for that agencies should come together to arrest whatever situation we’re facing and in this project, we can all see it happening. I’ve looked at the nature of their training and I’m satisfied. Some pirates have been convicted under the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act, though coming late but cheers us up and gives us that confidence that we can now go back to the sea with full force”.
Orakwusi recalled that the issue of piracy has been a recurring one and did not just start, adding that what stakeholders need was to appreciate the efforts made so far by NIMASA and encourage them.
She added, “Remember this problem has been there for many years so we need to appreciate the efforts made so far and encourage them and as stakeholders, we should contribute our quota and be able to advise them when things are not working so”.
She called on traditional rulers particularly those in riverine areas to come to the assistance of the government in the fight against piracy by providing the right intelligence that can lead to the arrest of criminals.
Orakwusi said, ”I call on the traditional rulers especially those of them in the riverine areas and where these pirates take off from to provide the right intelligence. When they were kidnapping our people, they were being kept in comfortable camps. The traditional rulers should wake up to their responsibilities and help this nation to succeed in the deep blue project”.
On her assessment of the deep blue project after its launch, she said with the efforts so far, the psychological effects alone was capable of draining the pirates and sea robbers, one of the reasons such efforts should be encouraged.
She called on the media to be patriotic and be careful about their reports because of the possible harm that could be done to the Nigerian economy.
She said, “At times I get upset when I read reports from the people that are not in this country, we should all be very careful and stand up for Nigeria. I know some business-minded individuals that based on what they’ve been reading about Nigeria they have fled to other African countries. I once had a visitor and I know what it took me to convince that person to stay. I would also challenge the press to highlight those few things that’ll attract foreign investors into the country to create employment. We read about companies relocating to other African countries but have we thought about the job losses, revenue loss and all that. It has a ripple effect so we should try to project our image in a positive light. In my own opinion, they (NIMASA) are on track but I think we the stakeholders need to push them forward”.
About Post Author
