NIMASA Harps On Synergy As Crucial To Successful Fight Against Maritime Crimes

·       CNS Honours Jamoh For Ensuring Civil, Military Cohesion

Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has restated the need for enhanced stakeholders collaboration in tackling maritime security challenges in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.

Jamoh made this call in a paper titled: Enhancing Collaboration Amongst Stakeholders For Improved Maritime Security In Nigeria, at the recent Chief of the Naval Staff Annual Conference (CONSAC) in Kano State.

A statement made available to the press in Lagos, Assistant Director, Public Relations NIMASA, Osagie Edward, revealed that Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo honoured Jamoh at the event for ensuring civil and military cohesion.

Recalling the terrorist attacks of 9-11 on America and the report of the 9-11 Commission indicting security agencies for failing to share real-time intelligence, Jamoh urged Nigerian stakeholders to “learn to share their toys” in a bid to close the gaps and tighten security around the nation’s maritime space against piracy and other maritime crimes.

The NIMASA Director-General noted that in spite of the rich potential of the maritime sector in the areas of job creation and revenue generation, and its vital role in facilitating more than 90 per cent of world trade through shipping, maritime insecurity had undermined the sector.

He said: “The economic cost of maritime insecurity is very pronounced for Nigeria compared to other countries. While the economic cost of piracy activity in Asia was estimated at $4.5 million (as of 2016), the estimated economic cost of maritime insecurity in the GoG was about $793.7 million.”

He also identified sources through which insecurity led to the loss of revenue in the maritime sector as ransom payment, insurance premiums, re-routing ships, security equipment, losses to the oil and fishing industry, and cost of security escort.

Speaking further, he said: “Studies have identified an increase in ship traffic as a result of globalisation; the debilitating leadership of many of the states in the region; the proliferation of small arms; poor monitoring and control of the oceans; and criminality, which have been further aggravated by visible youth unemployment, as factors that drive maritime insecurity in the region.

“High level of poverty and economic hardship were also listed as causative factors. The impacts of these challenges are far-reaching and require that all concerned should collaborate to tackle this menace.”

Citing other climes, like the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), he stressed how stakeholder collaboration had been used to tackle maritime insecurity.

He identified the five clusters of Nigerian maritime collaboration as the Armed Forces/National Security Group (Army, Navy, Air Force); Non-Military Services (Customs, Police, Immigration, NDLEA); Agencies with Incidental Functions (NAFDAC, NNPC, DPR); Regulatory Agencies (NIMASA, NESREA, NOSDRA, NIWA); and the Disaster Management Agencies (NEMA).

Jamoh listed some collaborative efforts by NIMASA to address maritime insecurity to include the implementation of the Deep Blue project; the enactment of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act 2019; community engagements; strengthening of the Navies of the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) region; collaboration with chief executive officers of Maritime Industry Organisations, known as the Joint Maritime Industry Working Group (JMIWG); engagements with security forces (Nigerian Navy, Army, Airforce, Police, Customs, Immigration); and the Gulf of Guinea-Maritime Collaboration Forum/Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE).

He further stated that NIMASA was collaborating with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), INTERPOL, regional organisations, shipping operators, as well as private security companies, submarine cable operators and seafarers’ organisations.

Jamoh called for the deployment of more resources for technical assistance to facilitate capacity building and expansion of automation systems for monitoring the maritime sector.

He said this would enhance the country’s capacity for cooperation against trans-national maritime crime and terrorism with the potentials to adopt a more participatory approach to maritime security.

“Working together is, therefore, a most vital approach to defend our seas, enhance maritime security, promote trade, protect the environment, and guarantee the quality of life of our people,” Jamoh stated.