The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, on Friday said the agency has engaged an Israeli firm, HLSL Security Systems and Technologies to combat piracy in Nigeria’s maritime domain.
Peterside who made this known in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State said the Israeli firm, apart from training and re-training of some security personnel to fight piracy, would help acquire asset and invest in integrated surveillance tools.
The NIMASA boss had in June last year stated that the Federal Government reinstated the controversial $195 million (about N60 billion) maritime security contract, three months after it announced terminating it.
He further stated that the flag state administrator said is working on a dedicated anti-piracy law in order to give strong legal backing to the anti-piracy war.
“When the law is made and the agency intercepts and arrests any sea pirates, it will enable us to prosecute them,” Peterside said.
He added that a special committee had been set up to identify infrastructure needs and ascertain NIMASA’s security issues.
Peterside said that the NIMASA had also supported more vessels to trade within Nigeria’s coastal space, noting that before now foreign, vessels had dominated the space.
“But today we have lots more of Nigerians owing Nigerian flag vessels trading within our coastal water,” he said.
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