Weekly maritime activities ended on Friday with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) pledging to develop deep seaports in Lekki in Lagos State and Ibaka in Akwa Ibom.
Mr Omar Suleiman, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), made the pledge while receiving the executive members of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in his office.
Suleimansaid that his organisation was committed to long-term development of the ports infrastructure.
“What we are doing at NPA is in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan,’’ he said.
“Other transformation programmes going on within the ports include rehabilitation of port access roads and development of rail lines for timely evacuation of cargoes,” Suleiman said.
The MARAN President, Mr Bolaji Akinola, said that Suleiman, within one year of assumption of office, had made a clear difference in the NPA administration.
“Wrecks, which were a sore point in our port administration before your appointment, have been removed and now the port channels are clear of wrecks.
“We also note that you are deepening the channels to attract larger vessels,” Akinola said.
?During the week, Capt. Niyi Labinjo, the Executive Secretary of? Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), advised the ship owners to evolve ship security plans to protect their ships.
Labinjogave the advice in Lagos at a two-day seminar and training on “Maritime Piracy- A Humanitarian Response Programme for West and Central Africa”.
The mariner said that piracy on Nigerian waters could be described as armed robbery on land and advised that those arrested should be treated and prosecuted like armed robbers.
He said that 12 incidents of ship attacks had so far been recorded in 2012 and that the targets of the attacks were tankers with oil at the anchorage.
Mr Ishaku Shekarau, the Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said that the agency had adopted some measures to tackle sea piracy.
Shekarau disclosed this at a two-day seminar and training on Maritime Piracy Programme organised by the National Seafarers Welfare Board (NSWB) in Lagos.
He said the agency would adequately care for seafarers and vessels coming through the Nigerian waterways to safeguard them from piracy and other armed robbery attacks.
Shekarau,, who was represented by Mr Richard Owolabi, a director in the agency, said that NIMASA had a Maritime Guard Command.
He said that NIMASA had circulated information to the ship owners on how to reach out to the agency’s rescue centre.
Shekarauadvised foreign vessels to also comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
Mrs Oruwari Etete, the NIMASA Director General, said that piracy had become a menace in the country.
Etete, who was represented by Mr Ibrahim Zailani, the Executive Director, Cabotage Services, said that trawler operators had also complained of their inability to do business due to piracy.
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