Maritime

Court Declares Merchant Navy Illegal

Published

14 years ago

February 10, 2012

The Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps is an illegal organisation whose activities constitute a threat to national security, an Ikeja High Court has held.

In a judgment on Thursday, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo said that the Merchant Navy was not recognised by any law.

Taiwo delivered a judgment in a suit filed by the 96 members of the corps against the Inspector-General of Police and one Mrs Yemisi Kefas of the Office to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The judge dismissed the suit which challenged alleged eviction of the corps from its office by the police and Kefas.

The judge awarded a cost of N20, 000 against the corps.

“This is an illegal organisation being headed by one Commodore Allen Edema, a trained welder and not a navy commodore as he is parading himself,” Taiwo held.

She said that there was ample evidence that the corps had had series of disputes in the past with the Nigerian Navy.

“It was the Nigerian Navy that invaded the premises of the applicants and forcefully evicted them and not Mrs Kefas or the police,’’ Taiwo held.

The judge said that the applicants would not be entitled to the property in dispute, since there was no evidence before the court to show that the corps was a legal entity.

She said that the property belonged to the Federal Government.

The judge further held that there was no evidence that the applicants were tortured or prevented from peacefully assembling as they claimed.

Taiwo said that there was discrepancy in the corps’s name.

She said that the corps sometimes referred to itself as the Nigerian Merchant Navy Corps and at other times, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Security and Safety Corps.

“The identity of the applicants has not been confirmed. I find that the application fails and it is hereby dismissed,’’ she held.

Our correspondent reports that the 96 members of the corps, led by Edema, had sought enforcement of their fundamental rights.

In an application dated August 5, 2011, their counsel, Mr Spencer Ohwofa, claimed the applicants were forcefully evicted from their office at No. 6, Force Road, Onikan, Lagos, by policemen acting on the instructions of Kefas.

The applicants had claimed that the property was given to the corps for operations by a former SGF, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed.

Kefas counsel, Mr K.S. Omosivwe, had submitted that the organisation was illegal and not recognised by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

He said that the corps had no relationship with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration Safety Agency.

Meanwhile, the applicants said that they would appeal against the judgment, which, they claimed was erroneous.

“We are going on appeal soon, because most of the issues we raised in our application were not satisfactorily dealt with,” their counsel, Ohwofa, told newsmen.

Maritime

MWUN Raises Alarm Over Port Security Lapses In Lagos

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has raised alarm over poor policing of Lagos Port waterfronts

The President General MWUN Francis Bunu said this when

members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) visited the union’s headquarters ahead of the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day.

He described attacks on vessels at berth as unacceptable in a regulated port environment, stressing that such incidents undermined confidence in Nigeria’s maritime sector.

According to him, marine police are mandated to secure berthed vessels through effective patrols and surveillance across port waterfronts.

“Why will a vessel berth and people come across the water in numbers to attack it?.

“These vessels are foreign-owned. How do they want Nigeria to be viewed in the international community?” Bunu said

The President said such breaches revealed lapses in coordination among security agencies, warning that, “urgent action was needed to restore confidence.

“Somebody is certainly not doing their job. We cannot have these attacks without decisive intervention from responsible agencies,”

Bunu reacted to a recent breach at Eko Support Terminal, where unidentified assailants reportedly attacked a berthed vessel last week.

He said the incident heightened concerns among ship operators and port users about safety within Nigerian ports.

The MWUN President warned that repeated attacks at berths could discourage international shipping lines and worsen Nigeria’s maritime risk profile.

He called for stronger security presence around port berths and waterfronts, stressing that such insecurity raises broader concerns about territorial waters.

Bunu urged security agencies and port authorities to review surveillance and patrol systems to prevent further attacks and reassure global operators.

Earlier, President of SCAN,Mr Moses Ebosele, commended Bunu for protecting workers’ interests and supporting industry growth.

Ebosele said the visit was part of preparations for the 2026 Dockworkers’ Day celebration organised by the association.

He appealed for support from maritime workers to ensure the success of the event.

Ebosele said this year’s celebration would emphasise environmentally friendly practices and modern technologies in Nigerian seaports.

According to him, the theme, ‘Green Ports: Sustainable Practices for Dockworkers,’ will guide discussions among key maritime stakeholders.

He added, the initiative aimed to improve environmental performance while sustaining economic viability and maritime trade.

Ebosele said participants would also explore dockworkers’ contributions to the economy and strategies for strengthening their role in a green economy.

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

Nigerian Navy Plans CMTF To Safeguard GOG

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy has stepped up efforts to strengthen regional maritime security with plans to establish a Combined Maritime Task Force (CMTF), positioning it as a multinational initiative to safeguard the Gulf of Guinea GOG

Navy said the collaboration would enhance global shipping safety.

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, said this in a statement signed by Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, Director of Naval Information and made available to Newsmen

Vice Admiral Idi Abbas who received the Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jen Ole Bach Hansen, at Naval Headquarters, Abuja, reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in driving a coordinated multinational maritime security framework in the Gulf of Guinea, a critical corridor for international trade.

Abbas stressed the region remains vital to global shipping, noting that countries like Denmark depend significantly on its sea lanes for commerce.

Vice Admiral Abbas disclosed that the proposed CMTF, expected to commence operations by mid-2026, would bring together “like-minded nations” to improve maritime domain awareness, boost joint response capabilities, and consolidate recent gains against piracy and other maritime threats in the region.

He called for robust Danish support in both the operationalisation and long-term sustainability of the initiative, describing such collaboration as crucial to maintaining security and stability within the Gulf of Guinea.

The Naval chief also extended an invitation to the Danish Navy to participate in the Nigerian Navy’s forthcoming International Fleet Review, a move aimed at strengthening interoperability and deepening naval cooperation between both countries.

Earlier Ambassador Hansen reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to expanding its defence and maritime partnership with Nigeria under its Africa Strategy.

He noted that bilateral relations between both countries, particularly in maritime security, have witnessed significant progress since 2024.

The envoy acknowledged Nigeria’s strides in improving maritime security and expressed Denmark’s readiness to deepen collaboration in pursuit of shared security objectives in the Gulf of Guinea.

Both sides reiterated their commitment to sustained strategic cooperation, with a shared goal of ensuring a secure and stable maritime environment that supports regional and global economic activities.#

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Maritime

NNS Hands Over Two Suspected Stowaways to Immigration Service

Published

2 weeks ago

March 30, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Navy, through the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, has handed over two suspected stowaways rescued from a merchant vessel, MV Seaspan Lahore, to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

The suspects were formally transferred to DSI Eneji Emmanuel Ochokpa of the Lagos Ports/Marine Command in Apapa, Lagos.

According to Naval Authorities, the individuals were discovered in the early hours of Thursday, March 19, 2026, concealed within the rudder compartment of the vessel during routine security checks by NNS BEECROFT personnel.

The ship was reportedly navigating near the Lagos Fairway Buoy at the time of the discovery.

The Navy said the suspects were safely extracted and taken to NNS BEECROFT for preliminary investigations.

They were identified as Abdullahi Yakubu, 36, described as a repeated offender, and Omoniyi Afotona, 25.

Both suspects were believed to have gained unauthorized access to the vessel at Apapa Port before its departure.

A stowaway is defined as an individual who secretly boards a vessel or aircraft to travel illegally without authorization, often exposing themselves to grave danger.

The Navy used the incident to caution against irregular migration, urging parents, guardians, and community leaders to educate young people on the risks and legal implications of attempting to travel abroad by hiding on ships.

It also advised Nigerians seeking opportunities overseas to pursue lawful migration channels.

Reaffirming its commitment, NNS BEECROFT stated that it will continue to align with the strategic directive of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, to maintain a professional and responsive naval force capable of protecting Nigeria’s maritime domain and supporting national security objectives.##

By: CHINEDU WOSU