By Uche Usim
DESPITE repeated assurances from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of adequate safety at sea, pirates have continued to launch sporadic attacks on ships that sail into the country, thus turning the Nigerian waters into a nightmare of some sorts. The development, experts insist, is already taking a frightening toll on the Nigerian economy as foreign seafarers now dread coming into the nation’s waters.
Few weeks ago, Filipino seafarers reportedly demanded from their employers that their salaries and other emoluments be doubled before they can sail to Nigeria.
Only last week, two pirates’ attacks were reported in Nigeria within five days. The first was the attack on a Malta-flagged tanker, MT Puli, where the vessel’s crew members were kidnapped by an eight-man gang. The second was a container ship owned by the French shipping major, CMA CGM, that was attacked by pirates off Nigeria and in the process, two crew members were also kidnapped.
For the full article, please click here.
Source:
