Whither Amaechi’s Israeli maritime security contractors as NIMASA, Navy arrest ship
It was not clear if part of the security details for the controversial Israeli maritime security contractors, HSLi Group included checking the activities of debtor vessels or just fighting piracy and associated high sea crimes including kidnapping.
This clarification from the Ministry of Transportation has become pertinent following the latest case where a combined maritime surveillance team from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Nigerian Navy (NN) operatives have arrested a vessel, ‘M.T. Asu’ with International Maritime Organisation (IMO), number 9014511, for trading illegally on the nation’s coastal waters.
Business Hilights recalls that several industry experts and even the National Assembly had rejected the idea of hiring a foreign security to man Nigeria’s territorial waters, but on the wisdom of the Federal Government the company, HLSI was hired and over $190m to monitor Nigerian territorial waters even when both NIMASA and NN are on ground.
Additional details on the arrested vessel showed that had been trading in the country without being in class meaning that she is not seaworthy.
However, in his confession, Captain of the vessel, Victor Alufa, agreed that all certifications of the vessel have expired adding that she is also owing NIMASA dues and levies amounting to $42,000.
