Navy Lobbies to be Part of Goods Examination at Ports
The Nigerian Navy may have started a lobby to return to the nation’s seaports to be part of goods examination.
At a meeting with the Minister of Transportation weekend, Rotimi Amaechi, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo made a case for the Navy to return to the ports.
Gambo during the courtesy visit explained that the presence of the Navy at the ports would enable its personnel to be able to check proliferation of small arms as they would be part of goods examination.
He told the Minister that credible intelligence has shown that there has been proliferation of small arms and light weapons since the Navy left the ports in 1996.
He described the situation as scary.
He admitted however that the Navy is invited to be part of examination of fertilizer imports as they could be materials for explosives.
Based on this, Gambo argued, “If NPA invites us at every opportunity to come and inspect these consignments and also ensure that they get to the destinations they are meant for and they are not diverted, then why not have us at the ports so that when the containers come in, they are not broached in the ports and subsequently after the inspection, we make sure they get to the right destination.”
The federal government had deliberately limited the number of agencies involved in goods examination at the ports to avoid issues of extortion on importers during examination.
Agencies not in the ports are however invited when the needs arise.
At a meeting with the Minister of Transportation weekend, Rotimi Amaechi, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo made a case for the Navy to return to the ports.
Gambo during the courtesy visit explained that the presence of the Navy at the ports would enable its personnel to be able to check proliferation of small arms as they would be part of goods examination.
He told the Minister that credible intelligence has shown that there has been proliferation of small arms and light weapons since the Navy left the ports in 1996.
He described the situation as scary.
He admitted however that the Navy is invited to be part of examination of fertilizer imports as they could be materials for explosives.
Based on this, Gambo argued, “If NPA invites us at every opportunity to come and inspect these consignments and also ensure that they get to the destinations they are meant for and they are not diverted, then why not have us at the ports so that when the containers come in, they are not broached in the ports and subsequently after the inspection, we make sure they get to the right destination.”
The federal government had deliberately limited the number of agencies involved in goods examination at the ports to avoid issues of extortion on importers during examination.
Agencies not in the ports are however invited when the needs arise.
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