The National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike, has advised governments at all levels to engage youths in coastal communities to support security operatives in the fight against sea robbery and other crimes along the inland waterways.
Nwabunike made the call last Friday while presenting a paper at the 8th Nigeria Annual Transport Lecture organised by Transport Day Newspapers, in Lagos.
In the paper tagged “Blue Economy: Pathway For Nigeria’s Economic Diversification”, the ANLCA boss reiterated the need to engage youths in coastal communities in the fight against piracy and other crimes on the waterways.
According to him, “Government should, as a matter of policy, involve youths of coastal communities in a kind of Civilian Task Force to support the Navy and other security agencies in nipping our maritime insecurity in the bud”.
Nwabunike noted that the nation’s maritime domain was insecure due to inadequate security platforms like patrol boats, aircrafts and supporting technology gadgets, as well as lesser number of personnel to implement or enforce adherence to security on waterways.
According to him, maritime piracy, sea robbery, oil theft, kidnapping on waters have been copiously recorded in the domain that should naturally contribute to the nation’s economic well-being.
“I am almost tempted to say that our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is no longer exclusive to us because the people I choose to call maritime bandits are threatening our space.
“I am aware that the Federal Government through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency is rising to the occasion with planned deployment of advanced security assets to energise our blue economy. I believe it will work if consciously sustained. This they tagged the ‘Deep Blue Project’.
“It is anticipated that this move will go a long way in fighting piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and our country’s entire territorial waters”, he said.
The ANLCA President pointed out that safety of vessels, cargoes and crews on the maritime space  have direct impacts on the overall economy since the maritime sector is critical in the areas of trade, investment, employment and recreation.
He affirmed that the 853km Nigeria coastline runs through seven southern states of Lagos, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers bordering the Atlantic Ocean, adding that these are aside other states that are linked by inland waters for copious socio-cultural and commercial activities.
While urging the government to look beyond oil and gas to sustain the economy, Nwabunike said that the Nigerian maritime industry, being the nation’s second highest revenue earner, has the potential of cushioning the temporary effects of inadequate oil revenue.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos