From Benjamin A Ameh,Lagos
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A ONE-DAY CONFERENCE ON PREVENTING TERRORISM AND INSURGENCY IN THE NIGERIAN MARITIME DOMAIN, ORGANIZED BY THE MARITIME CORRESPONDENTS’ ORGANIZATION OF NIGERIA (MARCON) IN LAGOS ON THURSDAY,.
Against the backdrop of incessant oil theft, attacks on vessels within Nigeria’s territorial waters and the adverse effects these unlawful acts impacts on our socio-economic lives, in addition to bad image it gives the nation before the global maritime community, the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) put together the conference to contribute its quota to addressing these challenges.
Speaker at the event includes Mr Olugbenga Leke Oyewole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Affairs; Dr. Alex Favour Okwuashi, Rector Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria and Dr. Ezeatakwulu Osakwe Kingsley of the Crises Control Foundation.
Participants were drawn from both the private sector and government agencies.
The Federal Ministry of Transport, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Navy, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, terminal operators, training institutions, freight forwarders and other members of the Nigerian maritime community were represented.
The conference noted the various efforts by the Federal Government through its agencies like NIMASA to put a halt to wanton oil theft and stop what is widely believed to be economic terrorism against the Nigerian state.
Concerns were also expressed over a wide gap between the Nigerian Navy and the larger maritime community with a suggestion that an enhanced and robust Navy Community Relation be put in place.
It was also observed, that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) have not helped in the security situation in Nigeria as they restrict developments to their immediate operating and living environments without contributing to developing their host communities and they draw bogus security budgets, which they deduct as part of their operating costs at Nigeria’s expense.
It was observed that Nigeria is long overdue for strong anti-piracy laws that will address all admiralty issues and marine related violations.
The absence of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and some other relevant agencies in oil loading terminals was identified as a contributor to the seemingly loose nature of the sector.
The conference also noted that the non- registration of marine crafts and boats operating on our waters makes it difficult to track down sponsors and barons behind criminality on our waters as there appeared to be no government database or records of unmarked boats arrested or intercepted has been traceable to any person or organization. The many stories about vessel attacks on our waters may be untrue as some operators may be putting off their transponders and deactivating the Automatic Identification System (AIS) on their vessels to create a false impression to vessel owners after they might have used the vessel for other criminal activities.
It was recommended that: All agencies of government involved in maritime security should increase their synergy with NIMASA which is the lead agency in the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and increase their level of inter-agency intelligence sharing, joint operations, enhanced reconnaissance and strict prosecution of suspects.
Government at all tiers should declare a national emergency against all forms of criminality on our territorial waters as the tension generated by the alarming rate of oil thefts was likened to economic terrorism since the highest percentage our national economic mainstay is dependent on our viable maritime endowment. States and local governments that are in the coastal areas should be involved in the drive for safer waters and assist at the community level to track down suspected insurgents and criminals.
The conference advised that budgetary priority be given to NIMASA and other agencies to procure state of the art platforms and aerial surveillance aircrafts to strengthen security patrol on our waters.
Nigerian Ports Authority and terminal operators should agree to work out modalities for profiling of individuals including biometric data capture and access control for all approved port users and workers.
That the National Assembly should as a matter of utmost urgency enact strict anti-piracy laws and make provision for sanctions against any vessel that puts off its transponders while within the Nigerian maritime domain.
That the Nigerian Navy should interface better with other stakeholders in the maritime sector as there is no limit to intelligence gathering and sharing through improved social interactions geared towards national security.
That the Department of State Service (DSS) should increase its presence in the marine environment with more patrol and higher number of undercover agents on board boats monitoring activities on brown waters and extend its reach further to blue waters where bigger vessels operate.
Private sector participation in maritime security should be encouraged as a way to increase sources of intelligence and take off the burden of sundry procurement from the military and other government agencies.
There should be periodic meetings among coastal states for peer review and share of experiences and strategies in the fight against insurgents with larger participation including Local Government administration and traditional rulers whose domain falls within the marine environment.
That government should improve the allowances and benefits of security operatives involved in the provision of maritime security and adequately compensate them for feats and breakthroughs that curb or confront insurgencies.
It was noted that cadets (Nautical Science and Marine Engineering) of government owned maritime academies be trained in the use of arms for immediate onboard protection of merchant vessels against pirate attacks before arrival of naval reconnaissance or reinforcement patrols.
That provision be made in the Gulf of Guinea for floating armoury and armed guards, where merchant vessels can pick up arms, ammunition and personnel to defend/protect deficient vessels/ when sailing through areas notorious for pirate’s attacks.
Such arms and ammunition as well as personnel should be returned to a receiving branch of same floating armoury after leaving the danger zones. This practice is presently in place in areas that forms part of the Arabian Sea which the IMO has declared to be pirates infested. Upon government approval, such armoury or personnel to be used may be drawn from the Nigerian Navy.
