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Tag: NIMASA

  • NIMASA… Trainees’ two years of waiting in vain

    NIMASA… Trainees’ two years of waiting in vain

    Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) is a subject of controversy following allegations that qualified beneficiaries have been waiting for two years without going overseas for studies, reports SINA FADARE

    Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi was in an upbeat mood  in May when he told President Goodluck Jonathan that the agency was sponsoring about 2000 Ratings in various overseas schools.

    Akpobolokemi was speaking at the inauguration of the first Nigeria Maritime University at Okorenkoko, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    He said: “NIMASA’s Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) has graduated 51 cadets, while about 2,505 officers and ratings are undergoing various maritime academic programmes in reputable institutions in Philippines, Egypt, India, Romania and the United Kingdom.”

    The NIMASA chief, however, did not tell the president that there are students it screened in 2012 for its ratings’ courses abroad who are still stranded at home. They were to benefit from its NSDP. But two years down the line, the students are still waiting and no one is telling them why they are yet to depart for Romania, Egypt, India, Philippine and Malaysia, where the institutions are based.

    According to one of the shortlisted candidates, who simply identified himself as Joseph, the journey to the NSDP started on May 10, 2012 when NIMASA, through a newspapers advertisement called for eligible Nigerians with WAEC/GCE certificates and between 18 and 30 years to apply for ratings’ training outside the country.

    He said: “On July 2012, all those who passed the English and Mathematics examination were sent for through text messages for another round of screening at Etal Hotel, Apapa.”

    The Nation gathered that after the screening that included comprehensive medical check-up and validation of credentials, another text messages were sent to those who qualified for the next stage. The message reads: “Please you are expected to report to Etal Hotels 1-15 Ede Street, Apapa- Lagos on Friday 28th-30th Sept. 2012 for the second phase screening of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP. Pls bring with you your original credentials. You are expected to stay at the above address for 3-4 days. NIMASSA Management.”

    After this final screening, the participants did not hear anything from NIMASSA till the end of 2012. On June, 2013 another message was sent to all the selected candidates. It reads: “Further to your successful selection for the Ratings programme, pls your are to report at Etal Hotels, 1-15 Ede Street, Apapa, Lagos on Tuesday, 18/613 for a day, to enable you complete some Malaysian Visa documents and note that you are staying for a night and the deadline for your arrival is Thursday 20/6/13 morning. Thanks.”

    Speaking to The Nation on their plight, another student, who was screened to go to India, said the fillers they got from the agency was that all the screening the agency did since 2012 were mere camouflage and that their names had been substituted with other candidates.

    The candidate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said aside the fact that none of the candidates have received any mail from the agency this year, they were shocked to see on the website of the agency that about 2000 of those screened are studying abroad.

    “This is not true because we have our source within; we were only used by the agency to put money into the pocket of some top officials of the agency.”

    He said his international passport has been with the agency since 2012.

    “This has denied majority of us another opportunity somewhere else as we cannot apply for another passport and the agency has kept mute on our predicament and nobody can go to their office because the exercise was contracted out to a company known as Renner,” he said.

    A maritime expert, Mr. Chike Okafor, said the alleged screening of candidates was a mere formality.

    “The issue of federal character is not exiting in NIMASA because 80 per cent of those given the opportunity to study abroad are from Southsouth,” Okafor said.

    Getting NIMASA to react to the allegations was like knocking the biblical Jerusalem gate. When The Nation got in touch with the coordinator of NSDP, Mr. Chinedu Ikedieze, through sms messages, he promised to visit the newspaper’s corporate office but he never showed up you.

    NIMASA’s spokesperson Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, who is the Deputy Director and Head, Public Relations, did not  pick calls to his phone.  This reporter was also not allowed into its office at No 4, Burma Road, Apapa on Wednesday, October 15.

    For now, the students’ hope hangs in the balance and if it is true that their names have been replaced with others who are already overseas studying, it is high time they started looking beyond NIMASA to realise their dreams.

  • ‘Protect waterways against pollution’

    ‘Protect waterways against pollution’

    The rate of polluting the nation’s territorial waters, illegal fishing and duping of hazardous wastes has been on the increase, The Nation has learnt.

    A member of the Fishery Society of Nigeria (FISON), Gbolahan Adetona, said the country needs to work with foreign partners to develop the needed capacity in tackling the crisis caused by pollution, hazardous waste dumping and illegal fishing

    Adetona said the dumping of toxic waste in the maritime domain and the increasing crimes on the coastline require commitment on the side of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to provide capability and cooperation with foreign partners to build its maritime capability.

    Adetona pointed out that security experts around the Horn of Africa have developed theories over the increasing hazardous wastes dumping and piracy

    He said Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand had set the stage for cooperation between states, both in information exchange and mobilisation of resources.

    Another member of the group, Mrs Lola Adebajo, observed that the insecurity in Africa’s waterways had forced insurers to hike rates for ships passing through the region.

    Specifically, coastal and inland states had seen their vital trade links threatened by pirates, a situation that led to rising costs that their populations must bear.

    “As at now, there are no clear answers as to the best ways to ensure maritime security, nor are there clear answers as to what percentage of resources nations should allocate to maritime security to best facilitate the goal of furthering development,” she said.

    Since piracy is not the only threat to maritime security, another member, Mr Sesan Olanipekun, advised the government to adopt best practices that can be implemented.

  • ‘Ishaku must wake up’

    ‘Ishaku must wake up’

    Southern Taraba’s consensus candidate and Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Darius Ishaku, “must wake up and do more” to clinch the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) governorship ticket, Colonel Agbu Kefas (rtd) said yesterday.

    Kefas, who chairs the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), spoke in Wukari and Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, while canvassing support for the minister.

    The names of Ishaku, Kefas and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha were submitted to former Defence Minister Gen. Theophilus Danjuma by Southern Taraba stakeholders as the most credible governorship aspirants from the zone. They asked Danjuma to endorse a consensus candidate for the zone.

    But Danjuma’s nominee, Ishaku, an architect, is opposed by some people, who described him as “an Abuja politician”, who is not popular at home.

    Kefas told his supporters that he had stepped down for Ishaku, adding that the minister would “wake up” and do more to endear himself to the people.

    He said the northern and central zones had ruled for 18 years and it was the turn of the southern zone to produce the governor for the first time.

    Kefas said: “It is not a tribal or local government agenda. It’s all about power shift to Taraba South. Ishaku would have done same if I was endorsed because that was what aspirants from the zone agreed on.

    “Don’t allow anybody to mislead you. I am not better than him just as he is not better than me; we are all qualified for the contest but it’s a matter of choice because the seat is for one person.

    “If you say Ishaku is not popular, use your popularity and colour him to be popular. He too must wake up and do more to be endeared to the people. He may be the best governor because power comes from God and governance is a collective project; it is not about one person. We are all involved. Let us work towards progress and make Taraba develop.”

     

     

     

    “Feel free, maintain peace, let’s work together as a cohesive people. Don’t stay away to condemn and conclude that he is not a good candidate. You can write and tell him you want to see him; tell him what he should do to succeed.”

     

     

  • 5,000 cadets lack sea time training, say agents

    The National Association of  Nigeria Licensed Customs  Agents (ANLCA) has raised the alarm that over 5,000 cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State lack the mandatory sea time training, urging the Federal Government to address the problem.

    The association said the government should pay more attention to the seafarers so that they can compete favourably with their counterparts elsewhere and stem piracy on the nation’s territorial waters.

    Its National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said there was an urgent need for the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and MAN to collaborate and give the cadets the necessary mandatory sea time training.

    Shittu, however, said the re-establishment of a national carrier and the revival of the business of indigenous ship owners would help in providing solution to the problem of inadequate sea time training for the cadets.

    He urged the Federal Government to use the accumulating Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF) to acquire vessels for indigenous ship owners who will then be mandated to use the vessels to train the cadets.

    The CVFF fund is domiciled in NIMASA and is worth billions of Naira, a situation that has made stakeholders to call for the use of the money for the benefit of indigenous shipping firms.

    Shittu said since the IMO had directed that the single hull vessels be phased out next year, the Federal Government should direct NIMASA to inject the CVFF funds into the sector to assist vessels that will train the cadets and fly the nation’s flag.

    He said more jobs would be created for seafarers if NIMASA released the money for the purpose it was meant.

    The ANLCA chief said by next year, Nigerian ship owners would not qualify to operate on international waters and create jobs for the cadets unless they have double hull tankers.

    He said: “It is disheartening that more than 10 years after the Cabotage Act was passed into law, the welfare of seafarers are even worse than pre-Cabotage regime. Up till now, foreign vessels still traverse and dominate our waters unchecked. The story may not change unless the indigenous ship owners are assisted with the CVF funds to own ships that can engage in international trade. Then, it would be easy to put our cadets on board ships.

    “By 2015, it is only if Nigerian ship owners have double hull tankers that they will be able to qualify to operate on international waters and  thereby create jobs for more seafarers.

    “Shipping relies heavily on the initiative, cooperation and constant vigilance of seafarers to help prevent breaches of maritime security and without their support and whole-hearted commitment, the security measure the ISPS code intends to put in place may be jeopadised.”

    However, the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Akpobolo-kemi, said the agency would review condition of service for seafarers.

  • ISPS Code: NIMASA to clamp down on terminals, jetties

    The Nigerian Maritime Adminisrtation and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will clamp down on  terminals and jetties that are not obeying the International Ships and Port facility Code (ISPS), it was learnt.

    NIMASA is the Designated Authority (DA) charged with implementing the ISPS Code in the country.

    The role was given to the agency in May, last year.

    NIMASA sources said there are over 50 non-compliant terminals and oil jetties.

    The alleged terminals and jetties include Niger Dock jetty, Intercontinental Fishing Jetty, Allison Fisheries Jetty, Ocean Fisheries, Dantata Jetty, Standard Flour Jetty, all in Tin Can; Lister Flour Jetty, Osadjere Fishing Jetty, Eurafic               Oil Jetty, Seagold Fishing Jetty, Ibru Jetty, Port & Marine Service Jetty, Nido Gas Jetty, Atlas Cove Jetty, Nispan Jetty (Folawiyo Energy), Petroleum Wharf Apapa (PWA) jetty, New Oil Jetty (NOJ), Fishery Wharf (Waziri Jetty) and Bulk Oil Plant (BOP) jetty, all in Apapa.

    In Ibafon, are Julius Berger jetty, Single Bouy Mooring (SBM) jetty, Emsee jetty, and Contrans jetty. There are also Adsejere Jetty, Ijora Coal Wharf Jetty, Bakare Adewale Jetty and Tilla Fisheries Jetty. In Ajah, there is another Julius Berger jetty there.

    In Ojo creeks, there is Dolphin Fisheries Jetty and Dee Jones Jetty.

    In the Novo creek, there is Obat Jetty and Commodore Pool jetty while Paradise Jetty is along the Five Cowrie Creek. Moving outside Lagos coast, Nigeria has 36 jetties in Port Harcourt. They are Willbros Jetty in Choba, Tidex Jetty in Ogbogoro, Ajip Jetty in lwofe, Nissco Jetty, Grinkar Jetty, Adamac Jetty, Kent Resources Jetty, Haastrup/Eagle Bulk Cement Jetty, Nepturn Jetty and Saipem Jetty all in Rumuolumeni.

    There are jetties in Onne namely: Adamac Jetty, Wad Jetty, Starx Jetty, Wact Jetty, Dangote Jetty, and Atlas Cement Jetty. In Bonny, we have Mof Jetty, Tskj Jetty, Shell Slot jetty and Brt jetty.

    In Warri, Delta State, there are 25 jetties, namely: Daewoo Jetty, Chevron/Taxaco Jetty, DBN Jetty, Elf Jetty, Shell PDC Jetty, Globes Star Jetty, NWDM Jetty, Tidex Jetty, IWD Jetty, Shoreline jetty, Hercules OFFSHORE Hall Jetty, Hyundai Jetty, Seatruck Jetty, Futeb Jetty, Olowo Jetty, Ocan Jetty, Dufan Jetty, Four STAR Marine Jetty, B J Services Jetty, NBTC Jetty, DSC Jetty, Acro jetty, and NAOC Jetty.

    In Calabar, there are five jetties namely, MC Iver Jetty, Calcemo Jetty, Addax Jetty, NNPC Jetty and QIT Jetty in Eket.

  • ANLCA: over 5,000 cadets lack sea time training

    The National Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has raised an alarm that over 5,000 cadets of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN),Oron in Akwa Ibom State lack the mandatory sea time training, urging the Federal Government to address the problem.

    The association said the government should pay more attention to the seafarers so they can compete favourably with their counterparts else where and stem piracy and sea robbery on the nation’s territorial waters.

    Its National President, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, said there was an urgent need for the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and MAN to collaborate and give the cadets the necessary mandatory sea time training.

    Shittu, however, identified the re-establishment of a national carrier and the revival of the business of indigenous ship owners would help in solving the challenges of lack of sea time training for the cadets.

    He urged the Federal Government to use the accumulating Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF) to acquire vessels for indigenous ship owners who will then be mandated to use the vessels to train the cadets.

    The CVFF fund is domiciled in NIMASA and is worth billions of Naira, a situation that has made stakeholders to call for the use of the money for the benefit of indigenous shipping firms.

    Shittu said since the IMO had directed that the single hull vessels be phased out next year, the Federal Government should direct NIMASA to inject the CVFF funds into the sector to assist vessels that will train the cadets and fly the nation’s flag.

    He said more jobs would be created for seafarers if NIMASA released the money for the purpose it was meant.

    The ANLCA chief said by next year, Nigerian ship owners would not qualify to operate on international waters and create jobs for the cadets unless they have double hull tankers.

    He said: “It is disheartening that more than 10 years after the Cabotage Act was passed into law, the welfare of seafarers are even worse than pre-Cabotage regime. Up till now, foreign vessels still traverse and dominate our waters unchecked. The story may not change unless the indigenous ship owners are assisted with the CVF funds to own ships that can engage in international trade. Then, it would be easy to put our cadets on board ships.

    “By 2015, it is only if Nigerian ship owners have double hull tankers that they will be able to qualify to operate on international waters and  thereby create jobs for more seafarers.

    “Shipping relies heavily on the initiative, cooperation and constant vigilance of seafarers to help prevent breaches of maritime security and without their support and whole-hearted commitment, the security measure the ISPS code intends to put in place may be jeopadised.”

    However, the Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Patrick Akpobolo-kemi, said the agency would review condition of service for seafarers.

  • Nigeria loses billions yearly in ship supplies

    Nigeria loses billions yearly in ship supplies

    Customs Clearing Agents have urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to tap into chandling. The agents described the business as the most lucrative in maritime sector.

    Ship chandling, a business established in Nigeria through an Act in 1958, is made up of retail dealers, who specialise in supplies of equipment and goods for ships, known as ship’s stores.

    For traditional sailing ships, items that could be found in a chandlery may include: rosin, turpentine, tar, pitch (resin), linseed oil, whale oil, tallow, lard, varnish, twine, rope and cordage, hemp, oakum and tools (hatchet, axe, hammer, chisel, planes, lantern, nail, spike, boat hook, caulking iron, hand pump, marlinspike).

    Others are brooms, mops, galley supplies, leather goods, and paper.

    Items that could be supplied by the modern day chandlers, range from foodstuff, drinks, oil, engine oil, water,  spares, materials and other items the captain of the ship may require.

    The President, Nigeria Licensed Customs Clearing Agents (ANLCA), Prince Olayiwola Shittu, who made the call, said although the Local Content Act is meant to address issues of this nature, the National Content Monitoring Board is yet to understand the dynamics of the local content ship chandelling operations.

    He said the country loses several billions of naira annually due to the low level of activities in the ship chandelling sub sector of the economy. He, therefore, urged the Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi and his management team to do a thorough co-ordination of the statues guiding ship chandelling so as to harness it to create jobs for the youth and boost the nation’s economy.

    He pointed out that ship chandelling needs a lot of funds to meet the demands of the crews engaged by ships.

    For instance, he said a ship of 5,000 Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), would require about $50,000 monthly to take foods, pharmaceuticals, oil, lubricants and other things for it to go to sea and come back to the port.

    The ANLCA boss said the association was worried that the legislation guiding ship chandelling profession has been in comatose, a situation that has allowed the profession to stagnate, adding that the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), Section 24, which regulates ship chandelling, has not been reviewed since 1968 to reflect the new trend in the business.

    Shittu said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has the power to enforce, as well as the requisite training to understand the dynamics of how this aspect of the maritime business is run.

    He said ship chandelling is one of the oldest maritime professions the country needs to harness to protect local chandlers and end foreign domination.

    The ANLAC chief said the continuous refusal of foreign ship operators to make use of indigenous chandlers contravenes the Local Content Act promulgated by the Federal Government to grow indigenous companies and create jobs.

    “NIMASA and the Federal Government must do something about the business. The country must use all the resources we have to provide jobs for our people. Other countries are using ship chandelling to empower their youths and there is nothing wrong if we also tap into it,” Shittu said.

    But a senior official of Customs, who does not want his name in print, said the terminal operators also were taxing indigenous chandlers heavily, collecting about 20 per cent of the total cost of the goods to be supplied. “They collect the money before they allow them to pass through their terminals to supply the crew inside ships,” he said.

    Ship chandelling business is regulated by an international body known as the International Ship Suppliers Association, (ISSA) which was formed in 1955 and it is a business that is central to the existence and the social dynamics of ports and waterfront areas.

  • Seminar on ISPS Code

    Stakeholders are to hold a seminar on International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code in Lagos, on Friday.

    The event will hold between 10am and 12.30pm at the International Maritime Press Centre, Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) secretariat, Apapa.

    The seminar, according to the organisers, will discuss the implementation of the ISPS Code and the primary international security standard at the nation’s sea ports.

    A seasoned master mariner and former Consultant to the International Maritime (IMO), Captain Abiodun Omoteso, will  make presentation at the event.

    The Chairman of the committee organising the event, Mr Kayode Atofolaki, said the purpose is to enable the public and the international shipping community appreciate the level of security on the nation’s waterways and the port environment.

    Atofolaki said the seminar would discuss the level of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA’s) Verification Inspection Exercise (VIE) across port facilities and security threat levels.

    He noted: “The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) is a comprehensive set of measures to enhance the security of ships and port facilities.’’

     

  • Govt loses over $25b yearly to oil theft, sea piracy

    Govt loses over $25b yearly to oil theft, sea piracy

    • West Africa’s 5.6 million illegal weapons in Nigeria

    The Federal Government loses about $25 billion yearly to oil theft, sea piracy and poaching, The Nation has learnt.

    A breakdown showed that $800 million is lost to poaching, $9 billion to piracy and $15.5 billion to oil theft.

    The rate of pollution of the waters from Lagos to the oil-producing Southsouth is also high.

    Speaking with The Nation after presenting a paper on the Legality of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and its Protocols on the partnership between Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Air Force, Matthew Egbadon, a former staff of NIMASA said the amount the country is losing is huge. He called for the sharing of information by the security agencies to stem criminalities on the waters and make it safe.

    He  raised the alarm that over 70 per cent of about eight million illegal arms and ammunition in West Africa are in Nigeria. He urged the government to pay attention to policing of the waters because of the huge number of arms and ammunition in circulation.

    Egbadon urged security agencies to collaborate to stem the tide.

    Investigations, however, revealed that while NIMASA is collaborating with other government agencies to end criminalities on the waters, the agency is seriously handicapped when it comes to the issue of pollution.

    NIMASA, it was learnt, has the responsibility to stop dumping of wastes in the water and its pollution; illegal bunkering; human trafficking; illegal fishing; oil-theft; pipeline vandalism; smuggling of small arms and ammunition; piracy and armed robbery at the sea among others.

    NIMASA’s Director-General Patrick Akpobolokemi has vowed to fight piracy, prevent and mitigate the effects of pollution, develop human capacity and ensure safety of vessels. All these, he said, are geared toward the growth and development of the maritime sector.

    Akpobolokemi also said NIMASA as the maritime regulatory agency  owes the international community the obligation to ensure the safety of their vessels, crew and cargoes in order to foster trade between Nigeria and the rest of the world.

    The NIMASA boss noted that the importance of the security agencies to the development of the nation’s maritime sector and thanked them for their cooporation.

    He commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Navy and Air Force for their efforts in combating piracy and pledged the agency’s support and partnership to help them effectively carry out , its day-to-day operations.

    “Piracy is capable of crippling the nation’s economy. Since shipping largely contributes to the growth of any economy, the economy cannot thrive where piracy activities are carried out,” he said.

    He said he was happy that the management of the Nigerian Navy, has created the Central Naval Command. He noted that it would help to checkmate all forms of illegalities in the maritime domain.

  • NIMASA acquires equipment to fight oil theft, piracy

    NIMASA acquires equipment to fight oil theft, piracy

    • Air Force, Navy join battle

    The game is up for oil thieves and pirates operating on the nation’s territorial waters. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has acquired a surveillance equipment for monitoring illegal activities on the maritime corridor.

    NIMASA will operate the equipment in collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force and the Nigerian Navy. They are collaborating to curb oil theft, piracy and other criminalities, The Nation has learnt.

    More than 5,000 international ships ply the territorial waters  yearly. Some of the vessels, sources said, violate international laws by engaging in illegal activities.

    The Airf Force has acquired three maritime 128-6, F27 and ATR-42-500 jets and other planes to monitor the activities of oil thieves and other criminals.

    The high-tech plane ATR-42-500 jet is one of the seven to be operated by NIMASA and the Air Force.

    According to Air Force Sergeant Sunday Olalekan Omotosho, the plane is fitted with sensors, radar and Electro-Optic Surveillance and Tracking (EOST) equipment, which houses three cameras to monitor ships in Nigerian waters. “When fully operational, no vessel can escape our coverage,” he told reporters before a demonstration flight from Lagos to Escravos in the Niger Delta and over offshore platforms in the oil-producing Southeast.

    The 20-seat plane can fly as low as 200 feet (60 metres) above the sea and passes on information about maritime traffic to the navy, who can intervene with fast-attack craft if necessary, he added.

    “Our aim is to fight all manner of maritime crimes in the country. With this aircraft, we can spot any vessel hundreds of kilometres (miles) away,” said Group Captain Enobong Eneh Effiom.

    The aircraft is inscribed with the words: “Vigilance over the ocean.”

    NIMASA’s Director, Shipping Development, Captain Warred Enisuoh, who led the NIMASA team during an air tour, explained that the cameras installed in the planes function well at night based on their high powered lights.

    He said the nation loses 200,000 barrels of crude oil to stealing daily.

    “For any sustainable and meaningful growth in the maritime sector, a robust maritime domain awareness system is inevitable. NIMASA has, therefore, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force to enhance water patrol and aerial surveillance of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

    “Our collaboration with the Air force will assist NIMASA in tackling the challenges of large and unrestricted navigational areas, small and non-cooperative objects taking advantage of the dense maritime activity to conceal their actions and it would also protect the ports and ships against attacks,” Enisuoh said.

    He said the agency is striving to ensure that the government and security agencies have access to accurate, comprehensive and up-to-the-minute situation data of the vessel traffic at sea.

    The jets, it was learnt, were built in France and equipped in Italy with radars, cameras and other security gargets.

    It was gathered that the Navy  has also acquired an equipment called Regional Maritime Awareness Capability Centre (RMAC) to aid the fight against oil theft.

    The equipment, findings showed, was imported from Japan for about N2 billion. It has high-frequency radio and long-range cameras, capable of spotting ships up to 48 kilometres away on the water.

    “From the domain awareness centre, we can see ships from anywhere in the world coming or leaving our maritime space. It also gives us the ability to ascertain the actual threat the vessel poses,” the official said.

    The idea for the tripartite collaboration, a source said, started about two years ago when the Director-General of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, spoke of a faster maritime safety and security network.

    It was learnt that NIMASA sought the help of the Air Force when it discovered that the war against pirates was complicated.

    With the equipment in the planes, NIMASA can monitor even the “unusual movement of vessels” at sea and keep their records, the source said, adding that Air Force officers on board will help in NIMASA’s maritime safety operations, including search-and-rescue (SAR) mission and environmental protection.

    The jets, it was learnt, draw on the latest technology to provide a reliable, round-the-clock monitoring.