NIMASA to review 2007 Act to tackle piracy on waterways

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it is working on a review of the 2007 NIMASA Act to tackle piracy on the nation’s territorial waters.

The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola, made this known during a media conference held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos on Monday.

Mobereola said that the bill, when reviewed, would give NIMASA the right to control and monitor all kinds of vessel operations in the nation’s territorial waters.

“The menace that has been carried out in the maritime domain is not done by the biggest vessels but the smaller vessels.

“We will ensure all boats operating on our waters are well regulated to stop piracy,” Mobereola said.

He promised to meet with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) so they could agree on how the smaller boats would be properly regulated.

The NIMASA Act 2007 also known as the Merchant Shipping Act makes provision for shipping and the registration, licensing, and marking of ships in Nigeria.

The 2007 NIMASA Act also contains provisions relative to the carriage of dangerous goods by ships and the prevention of pollution from ships