The Director-General of NIMASA Calling for help on maritime security

The Director-General of this Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Bashir Jamoh, has emphasized the need for the participation of judges, attorneys, and other applicable prosecuting agencies in the accomplishment of marine safety.

According to a statement issued by the bureau on Monday, Jamoh made this known in the inaugural edition of this Nigerian Admiralty Colloquium themes achieving marine security, safety, and transport development’.

The NIMASA manager explained that the bureau had obtained a judgment against 10 offenders, and three of whom were foreign nationals and seven Nigerians.

He explained that they had been sentenced to a seven-year prison sentence each for marine offences on Nigerian waters, also noting that by May, the bureau was optimistic about a different ruling.

Jamoh was optimistic that with all the newest alliance with the judiciary through legal tools set in place to prosecute offenders, more results could be gained.

He explained the subject of the colloquium was aggressive because using all the Deep Blue project being released by the government, problems of marine crimes on Nigerian territorial waters could be detained.

Jamoh added that by next year, the reach of the colloquium will be enlarged to add Justices of the Supreme Court.

Read more: NIMASA Commends Nigerian Navy on the Enforcement of New Anti-Piracy Law

He noted that the communiqué issued from the judges a year ago was introduced to the National Assembly for required amendment.

Jamoh stated, “We are delighted to announce the communiqué issued by the judges throughout the conference held the preceding year around the SPOMO ACT has been introduced to the National Assembly for required modification as indicated by the judges.

“This means that the first landmark and the advancement of the distinct judicial proceeding which connect with the marine market.”

Based on Ladan, the 2019 first-quarter report from the International Maritime Bureau revealed that Nigeria, with a coastline of approximately 800 km, was labelled as a piracy hotspot since the nation’s waters alone accounted for 22 from 66 piracy events reported worldwide.

To deal with this worrying situation, he called on all stakeholders such as law enforcement agencies, especially the navy as well as the judiciary to participate in their admiralty law series so as to seek out a long-term solution to the challenge.