In line with its mandate to ensure safety and security in the Nigerian
territorial waters, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy have renewed their existing
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to protect and secure the country’s
maritime domain.
At the official signing ceremony of the MoU at the Naval Headquarters
in Abuja recently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku
Peterside and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas
agreed that the MoU was sacrosanct for seamless shipping activities
within the nation’s territorial waters to bring about the much needed
economic diversification in line with the change agenda of the
President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration.
According to Peterside, the MoU signed by the two parties, in addition
to the previous ones already signed between NIMASA and other
government security Agencies- especially as the agency does not bear
arms, will help it to provide adequate maritime security for merchant
shipping. The MoU being renewed was first entered between NIMASA and
the Navy in 2007.
“NIMASA does not carry arms thus the MoU emboldens the Nigerian Navy
to provide support for NIMASA against ship with potential and actual
illicit operations. The success of the originating MoU with the Navy
has spurred this agreement up, thus we have no doubt or hesitation
whatsoever to continue collaborating,” the Director General stated.
He expressed gratitude to President Buhari and the Hon. Minister of
Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, for their support and
approval for the collaboration agreement.
On his part, Vice Admiral Ibas, on behalf of the Nigerian Navy,
promised to provide the anticipated tactical experience and capacity
to complement and support the Agency in its drive to secure the
maritime environment and engender safer shipping.
“The Nigerian Navy is adept and keen to pursue the objectives and
content of this MoU in the general interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Illegal operations of ships are detrimental to our maritime
potentials, and by extension, the Nigerian economy.
‘’ therefore, collaboration of this magnitude and nature, to salvage
the economy and complement the change agenda of the present
Administration for economic diversification must be pursued”, Ibas
observed.
In line with the content of the renewed operations-related MoU, NIMASA
and the Nigerian Navyare to collaborate in the extensive areas of
intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, search-and-rescue
operations, tactical sea-based assistance and enforcement actions
against piracy, sea robbery, smuggling, illegal bunkering and illegal
fishing.
It is worthy of note that the MoU being renewed was first entered
between the two agencies in 2007.