POST ELECTIONS: PCC Urges F.G To Tackle Insecurity On Maritime  Space

Worried by incessant attacks on vessels within the nation’s territorial waters, the Port Consultative Council (PCC) has advised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led  federal government to put in place policies that would provide the adequate security in protecting lives and property at sea.

 

The council lamented that surveillance of the maritime space has been  inadequate hence ,government must rise to the occasion in proffering to these challenges.

 

Chairman of PCC, Otunba Kunle Folarin gave the advice at a quarterly  roundtable meeting put together by Kings Communication Limited in Lagos, recently.

 

Folarin, who doubles as the Chairman, National Seafarers Welfare  Board ( NSWB) lamented that investors are worried over the high level of insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea adding that the maritime industry has key potentials to provide millions of jobs if well enhanced.

 

He said investment in the sector had dropped drastically, stressing the need for government to revamp fishing trawler operations.

 

“Nigeria has the longest coastline in the Gulf of Guinea. It has over 9,000 nautical miles of coastline which is largest in Africa when compared to any other  country.

 

“The surveillance is low to the extent that its a fields day for every country of the world to come fish in our waters.

 

“For diplomatic reasons I will not mention names of the countries but we know that surveillance is low and it is not a matter of blame game to ask why is it low.

 

“Policing Nigeria maritime space is a serious issue that the government should address.

 

“Who should be in charge or held responsible  with issues that have been raised by the inadequate surveillance of the maritime space,has brought a lot of problem to the nation’s economy.

 

“Nigerian freight has been raised by 30% through difficult port surcharge ,coupled with all manner of levies resulted to unidentified issues of problem.

 

Speaking further, the PCC boss added that “The coastline within the bight of Benin around the Gulf of Guinea which records the highest number of piracy needs adequate policing.

 

According to him, maritime security is a  big venture and  government maritime security police must be settled once and for all, we need to address this issues once and for all.