For Nigeria to stamp out sea pirates and oil bunkering, there is the need for government to employ persons with the relevant skills to combat sea crime.
This was the position of Captain Ichukwu Agaba of the Nigeria Merchant Navy, Security and Safety Corp at the unveiling of the corp’s new uniforms in Lagos on Monday.
More than 20 officers and ratings of the corp filed out in their brown and grey uniforms at its office, 6, Force Road, Onikan, Lagos.
The new uniforms are meant to differentiate the Merchant Navy from the Nigeria Navy and also to prevent impersonation.
Agaba said Nigeria is losing huge resources and revenue accruable from the sea due to the activities of sea pirates and other criminals.
He said: “In every country, the vital role being played by the Merchant Navy Security and Safety Corps cannot be underestimated as the Merchant Navy is regarded as the fourth arm of the nation’s defence after the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
“It is in this regard of our vital role when in 1999, the commander of the corp, Allen Benson Edema, with other officers and ratings participated n the war at Sierra Leone.
“Also as far back as 1922, officers and ratings of the corp participated in wars in Britain and America and have assisted the Navy in combating crime both locally and internationally.”
On the issue of the legitimacy of the Merchant Navy, Security and Safety Corp, which has been in contention in court, Agaba said the officers and men of the corp are relevant to the maritime industry in the country and should be recognised, supported and empowered to carry out its functions.
He said: “We have appealed the case about whether we are legal or not but the issue is far more political than legal.
“We cannot play politics with a vital agency like the Nigeria Merchant Navy due to some grouse some people have about our existence.
“We are not competing with any security agency in Nigeria.
“In the entire world, Merchant Navy is the soul of the maritime industry as we have the expertise to detect and prevent any sea crime.
“Our focus is to stop the criminality on our waterways, which cannot be left unchecked because of the colossal damage it can cause our country.”
Speaking on the new uniform, Agaba said it is meant to differentiate the corp from other security agencies.
He said: “Our new uniforms are meant to differentiate us from other security agencies and from other mushroom maritime union who may impersonate us.
“We are using this medium to call on the members of the public to report any fake merchant navy officer to the police and also the police can arrest and prosecute any impersonator wearing our uniform.
“Meanwhile we are calling on the Senate to expedite action on the passage of the Nigerian Merchant Navy, Security and Safety Corp bill, which is in its second reading
“Our new uniforms are in line with the uniforms of international organisations we belong to like the International Transport Workers Federation and the International Marine Organisation, so that these uniforms will differentiate us from the Nigerian Navy and also to enable us to work as a team with other security agencies to fight crime on the sea and other criminality.”