NIMASA Seeks Quick Enactment Of Anti-piracy Law

Dakuku-Peterside

The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside said that the agency and other stakeholders would facilitate the passage of the Anti-Piracy and Other related Crimes at Sea Bill into law.

A statement by the Head, Public Relations Unit in NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Monday in Lagos, said the director-general stated this at a four-day workshop organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the U.S. Government.

Peterside said that the law was necessary to provide the requisite framework for the fight, prosecution and punishment for piracy and related maritime crimes in Nigeria.

“The workshop which focused on developing a robust anti-piracy bill aimed at dealing with piracy and other related maritime crimes had in attendance Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.

“Prosecutors from the Directorate of Public Prosecution of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as well as officials from the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA attended,” the statement said.

Peterside thanked participants at the workshop and urged them to do a thorough job so as to ensure early passage of the bill into law when presented to the National Assembly to reduce delays.

He assured participants and maritime stakeholders that the agency would collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the Federal Ministry of Justice and all relevant stakeholders on the bill.

He said that the collaboration would ensure early conclusion of work on the draft bill and “ultimate transmission to the National Assembly for enactment”.