The Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies, MLEA, have urged the Federal Government to enforce laws that will enable the agencies to combat maritime crimes in the country.
This was issued in a communique after a seminar on Inter-Agency Cooperation, Panacea for Degradation of the Maritime Environment, held as part of Module for Naval Warfare Course 2 of the Naval War College in Ubima, Ikwerre Local Government Area, Rivers State.
MLEA said the law would improve maritime safety along Nigeria’s waterways.
The seminar featured deliberations on the lecture topic, ‘Implementation of the HSOP on Arrest, Detention and Prosecution’ delivered by Commodore Matthew Onwuegbu, Deputy Director in charge of Data, Naval Headquarters.
The guest lecturer explained that HSOP was produced by a Presidential Committee of MLEA set up in 2016 which bears measurable potentials at improving maritime safety in the Nigerian space.
He stressed that its implementation without statutory force had undermined its value to offer appropriate procedures for the arrest of ships or persons involved in maritime illegalities.
The seminar brought together stakeholders in the shipping industry, government functionaries and personnel of the Nigerian Navy.
