ZAINAB JUNAID
The menace of human and drug trafficking has become a global crisis that has cast negative light on shipping industry as a whole with Nigeria Shipping Industry not left behind.
Not only did the menace impacted shipping operations via increased cost and traumatic experience on seafarers, its link to organized crime, terrorism and exploits of human beings has become a major concern to critical stakeholders in the industry.
Just as investigation revealed that the Sector is vulnerable to the act due to its vast expanse of open sea, voluminous goods transported through the sea as well as large number of people engaging in shipping activities, active participants in the Nigeria Maritime industry are not relenting in taking bold step to address the issue.
Amidst the rising incidents of large quantities of drugs found on ships arriving at Nigerian ports, as well as sustained cases of stowaways found on ships departing the nation’s ports, Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) and the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO) have scheduled a Maritime summit on drug smuggling and human trafficking for Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos by 10am.
The Chairman, AMANO/ MASPAN Planning Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa revealed this recently at Maritime Reporter’s Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Secretariat Lagos, noting that the duo were prompted to organize the event to address the increasing cases of stowaways at Lagos Ports.
In 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.
“On the part of Human Trafficking, cases of stowaways, especially in Lagos ports, have continued to cause delays to vessels when they are found before vessel 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.
“The goal is to align with critical agencies in making sure that Drug and Human Smuggling/Trafficking in the maritime domain are reduced; if not eradicated, perpetrators are penalized in a way innocent parties are not made to pay the price, and the industry is not deprived of its growth potentials.
“We have 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 participate 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.
While the United States of America (USA) and France Embassies have confirmed their attendance for the event, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, CON, is expected to chair the program.
Organizing this 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,” he concluded
