Business
NITOA Raises Alarm Over Hijack Of Fishing Vessels
The Nigeria Fish Trawler Owners
Association (NITOA) last Tuesday raised
alarm over recurring hijack of fish vessels within Nigerian territorial
water.
The President of the NITOA, Mr John Overo told newsmen
in Lagos that attacks on vessels had started rising again.
He said that vessels belonging to his members were being
attacked and their catches stolen by the pirates.
Overo, therefore, called on the Federal Government to
assist in stemming the ugly development.
“We lose colossal investments to the pirates because
they also remove valuable items in the vessels, whenever they attacked.
“They always remove electronic gadgets on board, which
include the SSB Radio, VHF Radio, Radar and Echo Sounder,’’ he said.
Overo described the situation as worrisome and pleaded
with the government to evolve measures that could checkmate activities of sea
pirates before they escalated.
“NITOA has often called for provision of adequate
security in the Nigerian territorial waters.
“This is to ensure safe operations for fishing vessels
and other law abiding maritime users,’’ he said.
Overo urged the Federal Government to provide effective
security in Nigerian Maritime environment in the overall interest of the
nation.
The NITOA president said that the appeal was necessary
to save the sector from collapse due to huge overhead costs, especially the
high cost of diesel.
“These precarious situations will likely make the sector
to go under. “Our productivity has declined due to high cost of diesel used in
operating the trawlers,’’ he complained.
Overo said that 85 per cent of the sector operation was
being run solely on diesel, thus incurring huge overhead costs.
“This is so because it is only in the fishing industry
that diesel alone accounts for 85 per cent of production cost,’’ he said.
According to him, each vessel consumes an average of 60
tonnes of diesel daily which cost N10 million for the 45-day fishing trip.
He urged the Federal Government to create enabling
environment for trawling investments to thrive.
He also urged the government to extend the Export
Expansion Grant (EEG) to NITOA members.
“Government should ensure that the Negotiable Duty
Certificate, which is a product of EEG, is acceptable by the Nigeria Customs
Service from trawler operators,’’ he said.
Overo commended the efforts of the Marine Navy in
patrolling the nation’s water to ensure security of lives and properties.
He called for adequate
funding of the Nigeria Navy to enhance its effectives.