“Only nine of 33 security points on Lagos waterways manned”

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - The Nigerian Navy has said that its effort at policing the waterways in the Lagos area is taking its toll on its personnel, noting that out of the 33 security points presently along the area, only nine are manned.

Speaking at the meeting organised by the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, NCS, in Lagos, the Command Operation Officer of the Western Naval Command, Capt. M. M. Braimoh, said that apart from the above, they have arrested 33 offending vessels in the last six months, two of which have gone aground.

Braimoh pointed out that they have to place four to six armed men onboard each of the seized vessels for protection, noting that this is putting a stain on its manpower.

According to him, “I will really want to hammer on implementation, as a Navy; we have a platform were by all stakeholders come in. Being the Command Operation Officer, COO of the Western axis, we have seen so much since the last six months. I have been in Command in the last Six months and we have arrested 33 vessels.

“Each of these vessels, we have to put not less than four to six personnel armed so if you multiply by 33 at the end of the day; you look at where are our partners.

“Nigerian Navy for example is far over stretched. What we are discussing about now is that there is need for all stakeholders to come up with a document that has to do with the implementation of arrested vessels and we are going to have all partners.

“Now, if we arrest we call the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, we call Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, we call the Nigeria Police, we call the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“We have held several meetings with them depending on the nature of that vessel, that is the way they will react and if they do not react; it becomes a burden to the Nigerian Navy. Right now two of these vessels are gone aground,” he noted.