By Godwin Oritse
THE Port Facility Security Officers, PFSO, forum has said that the dislodgement of criminals from the Atlas Cove area has led to the increase in the attacks on vessels berthed at port terminals.

* Mor Prosperity; one of the two newly acquired vessels by Morlap Shipping Company.

A member of the Forum, Mr Oscar Alu, at the last monthly meeting of the Forum held in Apapa, said that the development in that area has  left the criminals with no alternative than to leverage on the already porous waterfront to continue attack on vessels just to sustain themselves.

The Forum has, consequently, set up a three-man Committee namely Nwora Ibegbu (PFSO, Folawiyo Energy), Oscar Chijioke (PFSO, PTML) and the Forum’s Assistant Secretary (Iyke Ogunna) who were mandated to come up with a position paper to be forwarded to the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Assistant Inspector General, Maritime Police Command and other relevant Government agencies on the prevalent cases of attack on vessels at berth within the Lagos Ports.

Alu said: “We have observed that there has been sudden increase in the spate of the attack recently since the Government seemed to have reinforced the security arrangement at the Atlas Cove.

“Government security agencies must do the needful by regulating the movement of crafts and small boats within the waterfront.”

The chairman, Dr Uche Ignatius, noted that efforts are already ongoing by NPA and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to address the issue.

Uche disclosed that procurement processes by the government agencies for patrol boats have reached advanced stage.

The alternate PFSO of Capital Oil observed that most of the attacks were aided by the On-Board Security/Tally Clerks personnel. He noted that the attacks will reduce when solution to the problem of on-board security personnel has been found.

comity of maritime nations.

For the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, at the Public hearing, said it is not in support of the creation of the proposed MASECA, instead, the collaboration with NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy be strengthened.