The federal government has declared arms bearing private guards on board merchant Navy vessels illegal.
This was even as the FG called on the National Assembly to fast track the amendment of maritime laws in order to allow carrying of arms onboard ships by private guards.
Speaking at the Lagos International Maritime Week and exhibition hosted by Zoe Maritime Resources, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami stated that it was not lawful for armed guards to carry guns onboard merchant ships.
The AGF who was represented by Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Financial Crimes, Biodun Aikomu called on maritime stakeholders to rally round the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in other to take advantage of the existing relationship between NIMASA and the Navy.
“Maritime security has become an important requirement for merchant vessels over the last decade due to the increased threats from pirates across the world.
“The issue of maritime security in the Nigerian territorial waters is one that should be taken very seriously; human beings have the responsibility for self-preservation of lives and limbs, and by extension, private properties and investments”
“As to the legality or illegality of armed guards on Merchant Vessels in Nigeria, the debate should no longer be based on whether armed guards should be employed but rather how they can effectively, legally and safely be engaged, with the emphasis on accreditation and accountability”
“Even though Nigerian flagged vessels cannot make use of armed private security guards as the Law stands today, the reality is that there must be a dynamic strategy of dealing with the security challenges facing Merchant Vessels in the Nigerian waters”
“It may be necessary to amend the relevant laws in the long terms but in the meantime, stakeholders should develop a strategy to deal with the challenge within the permissible scope of powers of NlMASA in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and Marine Police” he said
In her welcome address, convener of the Lagos Maritime Week, Mrs Oritsematosan Edodo Emore said that the introduction of the youth to the maritime industry is key to the long term development of maritime manpower in Africa. She said that this is in tandem with the theme of the event ‘developing maritime infrastructure in Africa’
She said that the Lagos Maritime Week is an event that brings together maritime stakeholders from around the globe to deliberate on concurrent challenges that face the industry, network and proffer solutions
Also speaking, the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye lamented that the inadequacy of maritime infrastructures in Nigeria has largely reduced the country’s ability to harness the full potentials inherent in her maritime industry.
She said “In order to benefit from the inherent wealth of the maritime sector, it behooves on us as government and people to commit our resources towards the development of requisite infrastructure for the sector”
Oladunjoye called for investments in ports and terminals, cargo handling equipments, channels and harbors, warehouses, vessel repair and ship building yards, port access roads, inter-modal transport, ICT, deep seaport, power and water.
