Nigeria, Singapore Seal Maritime Partnership
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Maritime and Ports Authority of Singapore have held a bilateral meeting to seek areas of collaboration between the two maritime regulators at the sidelines of the Maritime Regulators Forum holding in Singapore. The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside met with his counterpart at the Maritime and Ports Authority (MPA) of Singapore, Andrew Tan where they pledged to collaborate for the benefit of both countries. “Peterside met his counterpart at the MPA of Singapore, Andrew Tan, where they both pledged to collaborate for the benefit of both countries,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the statement as saying.
Nigerian Navy Arrests 84 Vessels for Maritime Offences
About 84 vessels have been arrested by the Nigerian Navy within maritime domain of the nation for committing various illegal activities during 2014, says Nigerian Navy source. According to a report by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), after preliminary investigation, the vessels arrested for illegalities and maritime offences were handed over to the appropriate prosecuting agencies for further investigation and prosecution. Some of the vessels were arrested for crude oil theft, piracy, carrying petroleum products without naval clearance and overloading. The Navy had enough patrol boats and ships with the personnel for operations, adding it was well equipped to fight sea piracy.
Potential Port Problems in Nigeria
According to a report on http://www.thenationonlineng.net, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) today threatened to shut down seaports to protest the planned establishment of another body--Maritime Security and Safety Agency. MWUN stated this in a petition signed by its President, Tony Nted and Secretary-General, Aham Ubani, and sent to Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan. The petition, which made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, was copied to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Minister of Transport. The union claimed that the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMSS) planned to establish another agency, which it said, was unacceptable.
