Shekoni-Balogun Implores Nigeria Police For Collaboration On Security In Waterways
The CEO / MD, Tarzan Jetties, Tarzan Maritime Enterprises and President, Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria ( ATBOWATON), Engr. Ganiyu Shekoni – Balogun, has implored the Inspector – General of Police (IGP), Mr Olatunji Disu, to ensure the Maritime Police section of the force form a synergy and interface with relevant agencies and stakeholders in the water transportation sector to build a solid platform for the purpose of addressing maritime safety and security issues effectively.
Engr. Shekoni – Balogun, who made these remarks during a chat with newsmen on Friday, noted that considering the fact that attention was now being focussed on alternative means of transportation other than road, all stakeholders in the water transportation business should be concerned about navigational safety within the country’s territorial waters in terms of making the waters free of anything that could impede smooth navigation
He advocated for adequate security for everyone using the waterways from attacks, stressing that 90% international trade occurs on ocean waters, transporting people and goods annually and maritime security, is therefore, essential to protecting these boats, ships and and cargos to prevent losses.
He stressed that ensuring adequate security on our waterways is essential to protect the nation’s economy, more so that the maritme industry powers the global economic engine and disruptions to maritime traffic can be devastating and have significant consequences, including losses, delivery delays and loss of human life.
The renowned Marine Engineer assured that with more security efforts put in place on the nation’s waterways by the security agencies, armed attacks, theft of boats and equipment would be drastically reduced if not totally eliminated.
Engr. Shekoni – Balogun advised the IGP to give safety and security optimum consideration for maritime businesses to thrive, stressing that for the country’s maritime environment to be conducive for business, its territorial waters must be devoid of criminals.
He informed the IGP that ensuring safety in the water transportation sector will promote economic development, ease trade, enhance social stability and sustain development among the regions that rely on it.
The Tarzan Jetties boss appealed to the IGP to give necessary attention to security on the nation’s waterways by ensuring the protection of oceans, seas, rivers and coastal areas from threats, thereby keeping the maritime environment safe from danger – along with the people who use the nation”s waterways.
Engr. Shekoni – Balogun further appealed to the IGP to ensure regular and intensive training sessions for Maritime Police Officers, which are critical to equipping them with the skills and knowledge required for effective enforcement.
He, however, commended the entire members of ATBOWATON for their strict adherence to regulation on passengers’ conduct, mandatory use of life jackets by all passengers and crew, periodic safety inspection, non – overloading, regular maintenance of boats and regular widespread sensitisation campaigns for boat operators and passengers on the importance of compliance for safety and the dire consequences of violations
The ATBOWATON President, however, highlighted the use of a combination of measures including the reinforcement of security in the inland waterways, improved collaboration among stakeholders and the focus of investments in infrastructure and technology as panacea to series of threats to insecurity on the waterways.
Engr. Shekoni – Balogun further appealed for increased equipment and better coordination among agencies maintaining security on the nation’s waterways to make implementation of safety measures more effective.
