Maritime security: NIMASA calls for collaborations with Army, Navy, others

Following reports that Nigeria loses about N7 trillion naira annually to insecurity and revenue leakages on her waterways, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stressed the strategic importance of security agencies to the achievement of safe and secure shipping; and a viable and vibrant maritime sector for the country’s benefits.

Dakuku, while playing host to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Peter John Dauke at the Agency’s Headquarters in Lagos, said that as the Agency was working to achieve a secure maritime environment.

He said the Nigerian Army in particular cannot be neglected adding that most crimes perpetrated at sea are planned on land.

He said, in recognition of the fact that security of our ports and the adjoining areas are very important to the safety of goods and services moving in and out of our country, and our commitment to the full implementation of the International Ships and Ports Security Facility (ISPS)) Code, we have continuously sought collaborative understanding with all security agencies, including the Army, with which we have a Memoranda of Understanding ,MoU, which is in the process of renewal, to effectively nip any security challenge in our maritime domain in the bud before it festers.

In his response, the GOC commended Dr. Peterside for his strides since assumption of office. He said the Division was fully open to partnership with NIMASA, adding that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai had directed all commanding officers to ensure an improved civil- military relationship.

Dauke further said that the vision of the COAS is for the country to have a professionally responsive Army; assuring that the Army would continue to collaborate with it to ensure security not only in the maritime domain but the entire country.

It would be recalled that in order to continue to safeguard the Nigerian maritime domain, NIMASA recently renewed its MoU with the Nigerian Navy; and the Agency is also set to renew its MoU with the Nigerian Army, which would also join other existing MoUs, including the Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Police amongst others.