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Sea Piracy along Nigeria territorial waters has witnessed a drastic reduction by 80 per cent according to Director General, Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh.
Bashir made this revelation during a courtesy call by Executive Members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council led by the Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi to the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos on Wednesday.
According to the DG,783 million dollars had been lost to piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
“We have recorded a drastic reduction in piracy and this is enough for us to beat our chest and that we are ready to return to the category ‘C’ of membership of International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“However, the year 2021 has witnessed a significant turnaround under my leadership as Insecurity on Nigerian waters had reduced by 80 per cent,” he said.
The NIMASA DG said that the last time the country had a drop in piracy attack in the nation’s waterways was in 1994, adding that Nigerian waterways were one of the top 10 safest glasses of water in the world.
He said this achievement was enough reason to sensitise and inform the international community that the Nigerian waterways were now safe than ever before, as Nigeria must take its rightful position among the comity of nations globally.
According to the DG, “We want the cost of Insurance Premium paid by Nigerians as a result of insecurity to be reconsidered as insecurity in the country’s waterways had drastically reduced, ”
He praised the agency for working toward the actualisation of the Blue Economy, adding that the aim and target of the agency were to see that the Blue economy was harnessed to the maximum.
“We have eight coastal states in the country and we want these states to develop their potential in order to contribute to the country’s revenue,” Jamoh stated.
The Director-General appealed to Journalists to be more professional in their reportage and be mindful of the information they bring to the public domain.
“Our priority as a nation should be striving to project positive reports that will project Nigeria in better light to the international community as done in advanced countries,” He said
Adding that journalists, especially those covering Maritime beats should always hear both sides of a story before going to town with information.
“We cannot achieve much without the media, especially in the area of educating people.
“The role of the media in any society cannot be overemphasized as no agency or society can function effectively without the press because the media helps in shaping public opinion” Jamoh submitted
He said another election in the Global Maritime Industry (IMO) will hold in November 2021″ and I urge the media to showcase achievements of Nigeria to the world before then in order to put Nigeria at the forefront globally.”He stated.
The DG lauded the efforts of other 19 African countries including Nigeria at tackling social vices in the Gulf of Guinea.
Jamoh who received the Executive members of Lagos NUJ described the visit as a homecoming for Ajayi who served as President of, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) between 2009 and 2011.
In his response, the NUJ Chairman assured NIMASA of regular publicity as well as a robust relationship between the Lagos Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists and NIMASA.
He praised NIMASA for the giant strides it had achieved in the Maritime sector which included safeguarding of Nigeria’s waterways, collaboration with sister agencies of government as well as donations worth millions of naira to the Internally Displaced Person Camps and victims of the disaster in the country.
The NUJ chairman presented pressing issues of the union before the management of the agency, amongst which include seeking sponsorship for its fast-approaching Press Week scheduled to hold in October 2021.
Other management staff of NIMASA present at the event were, Mallam Shehu Ahmed, Executive Director, Operations;
