Global Security Giants Register Commitment To Attend Nigeria Maritime Security Summit
The embassies of the United States of America (USA) and France have registered their commitment to attend the Nigeria maritime security summit organised by the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) in collaboration with the Alumni Association of Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO).
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, made the revelation at a press conference which held in Lagos.
According to him, the event which will be chaired by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, is scheduled to hold on Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos by 10am.
He stated that AMANO and MASPAN have become concerned with the rising incidents of drugs found on ships arriving Nigerian ports, as well as sustained cases of stowaways found on ships departing the nation’s ports.
His words: “Ships have been detained for several months while their crew were placed on trial and forced to remain without seeing their families for several years in cases of drug smuggling.
“At the end of this conference, we hope that stakeholders will arrive at workable solutions and mandate a working group to ensure the actualization of the resolutions reached.
“Cases of stowaways, especially in Lagos ports, have continued to cause delays to vessels when they are found before departure.
“Cases where discoveries were not made before departure have continued to burden shipowners because of the very complex administrative protocols involved in handling stowaways on ships.”
Maiguwa posited that organizing the event became pertinent having considered the disruption drug smuggling and human trafficking activities can pose to shipping operations via increased cost and the traumatic experience on seafarers.
“The goal is to align with critical agencies in making sure that drug and human smuggling and trafficking in the maritime domain are reduced; if not eradicated, perpetrators are penalized and the industry is not deprived of its growth potentials.
“We have equally secured the support of the key agency responsible for narcotics in Nigeria, the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has committed to fully participating in the panel discussion.
“The Embassies of the United States and France, the International and local shipping companies have also shown keen interest and are set to attend the event.”
Stressing that the event is strictly by invitation and registration, the organizers encouraged stakeholders with interest to contact the Planning Committee via the numbers on the event flyer to book the few remaining seats.
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