Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has called on maritime stakeholders to address security challenges in the sector for improved safety of the nation’s territorial waters.

Malami made the call in a presentation titled: “‘Armed Guards Aboard Merchant Vessels in Nigeria -Legal or Illegal” at the 3th Edition of Lagos International Maritime Week on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to the minister, maritime security has become an important requirement for merchants’ vessels over the last decade due to the increasing threats from pirates across the world, saying the issue of maritime security in the Nigerian territorial waters should be taken seriously.

“Human beings have the responsibility for self-preservation of their life and limbs and by extension, private properties and investments.

“As to the legality and illegality of armed guards on merchant vessels in Nigeria, the debate should no longer be focused on whether armed guards should be employed.

“Rather, how they can effectively, legally and safely be engaged with emphasis on accreditation and accountability.

“In this regard, the United Kingdom and Norway have provided regulations on the use of private guards on-board .

“The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has also announced its change of stance on armed guards. Even though Nigerian- flagged vessels cannot make use of armed private guards as the law stands today.

“The reality is that there must be a dynamic strategy of dealing with security challenges facing merchant vessels in Nigerian waters,” the minister said.

Malami who spoke through Special Assistant to the President on Financial Crimes, Abiodun Aikomo said that it could be necessary to amend the relevant laws in long term, adding that there was need for stakeholders to develop a strategy within the scope of power of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in collaboration with other sister agencies.

Also speaking, the Consul-General of France, Laurent Polonceaux, said Nigeria was surrounded by French- speaking neighbours and also was the largest trading partner of France in West Africa.

Polonceaux said the business interest of both countries pervaded all segments of economy in the value chain ranging from oil and gas, food and nutrition, pharmaceuticals, security, transportation, logistics and Africa food production.

‘There are also 120 French companies registered in Nigeria, as commercial partnership, direct, acquisition and affiliates.

“If we take a little look of the list of countries by length of coastline to realise that Norway is number two after Canada, while France is number nine.

“France supported the built-up and strengthening of the maritime security architecture decided by the heads of African states during the Yaounde Summit in June 2013.

“Mission Corymbe is a France Navy scheme initiated in 1990, prepositioned in West Africa, which helped to reinforce the capacity of the costal marines of the Gulf of Guinea in the field of maritime safety,” he said.

Founder of Lagos International Maritime Week, Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, said the theme of this year event was ” Developing Maritime Infrastructure in Africa””,

Edodo-Emore said development in the maritime industry in Africa should define the vision for the industry in the continent by seeking international cooperation to actualise the vision.

According to her, it was the responsibility of the country to take advantage of the global shortage of skilled maritime manpower by developing our maritime education and training institutions to produce skilled manpower for continental and global markets.

She said introduction of youths to the maritime industry was key to the long-term development of maritime manpower in Africa.

In his presentation, the Lagos Commissioner for Transportation, Ladi Lawanson, said that concerning the development of all modes of transportation, the state government in 2008, established the Lagos State Water Authority (LASWA).

Lawanson, who spoke through Technical Assistant to the Commissioner for Yransportation, Olufadeke Emmanuel, said LASWA was saddled with the responsibility to regulate, develop and manage all aspects of waterways.

The commissioner said the idea was to ensure growth in ferry services within an integrated public transport system by growing the modal share of the waterways network especially through private participation.

He said the state had embarked on training of 90 women in recycling of water Hyacinth cleared from the waterways to produce marketable items like key holder, mats and bags in conjunction with Mitimeth a Non- Governmental Organisation.

In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Olayinka Oladunjoye, said it behoved on them as government and people to commit resources toward the development of requisite supporting infrastructure for the sector.

Oladunjoye said such infrastructure should include all those activities and facilities that support and enhance the maritime transport sector and make it efficient, productive and environmental friendly.

She said Lagos State Government was aware that activities in the maritime industry were under-developed with poor investment returns and funding.

She said that the state government had been promoting the development of Lekki Deep Sea Port in which the state had an equity contribution of 20 per cent.

Oladunjoye said for holistic development of maritime assets, there was need for certain requirements to support the maritime industry.