By Uche Usim
DESPITE repeated assurances from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of adequate safety at sea, pirates have continued to launch sporadic attacks on ships that sail into the country, thus turning the Nigerian waters into a nightmare of some sorts. The development, experts insist, is already taking a frightening toll on the Nigerian economy as foreign seafarers now dread coming into the nation’s waters.
Few weeks ago, Filipino seafarers reportedly demanded from their employers that their salaries and other emoluments be doubled before they can sail to Nigeria.
Only last week, two pirates’ attacks were reported in Nigeria within five days. The first was the attack on a Malta-flagged tanker, MT Puli, where the vessel’s crew members were kidnapped by an eight-man gang. The second was a container ship owned by the French shipping major, CMA CGM, that was attacked by pirates off Nigeria and in the process, two crew members were also kidnapped.
According to maritime experts, the notoriety of Nigeria’s waters spells doom for the country, which if left
unchecked, may compel international maritime organisations to label Nigeria as war risk or high risk nation despite the fact that there is no war in the country.
The direct effect of that is astronomical increase in cost of imports because only fewer vessels will have the courage to come and their calling at any Nigerian port, especially in the South South region, will come with scathing fees.
Analysts also say the development would hurt the nation’s economy because reduced imports without matching local production would be unpalatable for an import dependent economy like Nigeria.
A former ship captain and former President of the National Association of Merchant Navy and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Thomas Kemewerigha, described the South South region as the most notorious, even as he called for proper policing of the water channels.
He said the fear of kidnapping has chased away local fishing trawlers and other seafarers, urging the Navy to rise up to its duties. “Now that seafarers are scared to venture into Nigerian waters, the economy is affected and jobs are lost regularly. Revenues accruable to the government is reduced because import is also reduced. The multiplier effect is much,” he said.
Already, local ship owners have begun querying NIMASA for the rationale behind the payment of sea protection levy when the pirates appear to have the upper hand as they rob and kidnap vessel crew without any resistance from Navy or NIMASA officials meant to patrol the volatile waterways of the country.
According to the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), the incessant attacks have led to a hike in ‘war risk insurance’ payable by ship owners.
Factional President of NISA, Alhaji Aminu Umar, who spoke with journalists on the sidelines of the association’s recent general meeting in Lagos said the body is worried over the activities of sea criminals, stressing that the sea protection levy appears not to be used for the purpose for which it was intended.
“The increased attacks have led to foreign ships avoiding Nigerian waters and insurance companies charging high premiums,” he stated. Aminu said that NISA has received notification from international insurance companies that “war risk insurance” has increased as a result of the attacks, adding that seafarers are no longer interested in coming to Nigeria.
“Every ship owner whose ship is transiting Gulf of Guinea is now doing vigil of prayers until you are able to cross in the morning. With these attacks now, our war risk insurance has gone up.”
Meanwhile, the NIMASA boss, Dakuku Peterside, is championing the enactment of the anti-piracy law which, according to him, will deter all real and potential culprits of piracy as stiffer and more deterrent punishment will substantially address the menace.
He explained that the agency would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Federal Ministry of Justice and all relevant stakeholders to ensure early conclusion of work on the draft bill and ultimate transmission to the National Assembly for enactment.