Headlines
Niger Delta boat operators lament incessant pirate attacks despite N5,000 daily tip to police

The Association of Boat Owners in Calabar Tuesday has lamented the activities of pirates, which it said were destroying water transportation between Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
While reacting to reports of an Oron-bound boat from Calabar that was hijacked along the waterways on January 17, a member of the association, who sought anonymity, said such event was no longer news to them.
Speaking to journalists at the Calabar Oron jetty, he said a similar event happened in the first week of December 2021, when five people were abducted by the pirates.
The abductors released their victims days later, including both those who had ransom to pay and those who didn’t.
“It is sad that we still face this challenge even though we give N5,000 every day to the police to ensure that the waterways are secured,” he said.
“The painful aspect is that when these kidnaps happen, the boats are not released even after the victims have been released and the engines of these boats cost as much as N5 million.
He stated that the same issue of piracy and abductions which has been occurring for years almost led to the close-up of businesses in 2014.
“Between 2018 and 2019, we had to shut down this Calabar Oron Jetty for over a month, in protest at the constant abductions along the waterways before the police and navy provided gunboats that were stationed at different points.
Responding, Irene Ugbo, the police spokesperson in Cross River said she was not sure yet about the incident and that she had called the Officer-in-Charge of Marine about the issue, but said no one had reported the matter to the police.
“According to her, “the union leaders are supposed to come and report.
“Nevertheless, he said, they were on the matter and the area was being combed by policemen on the ground,” she said.
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Headlines
NIMASA set to open Lokoja office to harness waterways resources

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has disclosed that the Agency is set to reopen the Lokoja office, as part of efforts towards harnessing the Blue Economy, enhancing collaboration, while also promoting Research and Development.
The DG, who made this known when he played host to the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), Mal. Usman Hayatu Mazadu at the head office of the Agency in Lagos, noted that investment in research would play a major role in ensuring the harnessing of Nigeria’s maritime potentials.
“The key cardinal principle of opening the NIMASA Lokoja office is to improve on Research and Development.
He said, “Now, the Blue Economy has come to stay and very soon you will see the impact of what we have; in terms of the gains and benefits to grow our Gross Domestic Product while improving the well-being of our own Economy”.
Earlier in his remarks, Mallam Usman of KADSEMA lauded the Agency for the feat achieved so far, which cuts across the entire Nigeria.
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