Nigeria seeks $1.4m to bring in security ship donated by South Korea to fight piracy amidst claims of sabotage of Nigeria by member states in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, noted that bringing in the security ship donated by South Korea to fight piracy in the Gulf of Guinea will cost Nigeria $1.4 million.
However, Dr. Bashir Jamoh criticised the continuous sabotage of Nigeria by member states in the Gulf of Guinea. He specifically said that these countries are angry that Nigeria is getting all the commendations and support in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
Whatever happens in the Gulf of Guinea, either in the territorial waters of Nigeria or Sao Tome, or others, these member states point fingers at Nigeria. Our integrity is stained; nobody respects us anymore due to the member states of the Gulf of Guinea
He further said that aside from the $195 million assets of the Integrated National Maritime Surveillance and Security Infrastructure also known as the deep blue project, Nigeria needs $1.4 million to bring in the security ship to secure its waters in the Gulf of Guinea.
Nevertheless, lack of funds is delaying the country from bringing in the security ship, which is in South Korea, to strengthen its security assets.
Dr. Jamoh also noted that there has been some progress with the deep blue project as well as the success recorded in the area of maritime safety and security, where Nigeria experienced the least attack on its waters in the last 28 years.
As he noted, this was made possible through collaborations with sister government agencies, foreign partners, amongst many others.