Belgium seeks Nigeria’s support for IMO seat
By Our Correspondent
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said President Muhammadu Buhari would launch the Maritime Security Project in Lagos, in June.
Amaechi disclosed this when he played host to the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria in Abuja on Monday.
According to him; “the crisis in our maritime sector is the maritime insecurity and it is more complex than the world knows, but the Federal Government has come up with a solution and it is ready to take off. The Navy, Police, Army and State Security Service are involved.”
Amaechi said the workability of the initiative would translate into a greater improvement in maritime security in the country and other nations in the gulf of Guinea, who can thereafter adopt it.
He said: “65% or 75% of crime comes from our water and if we are able to eliminate it then we will be making a lot of progress.
“If you are in the air, you see what is happening in the water, you are inside the water, you will be able to respond, the helicopter has the capacity to drop in the Naval men when they see anything suspicious”, he said.
He expressed the readiness to partner and share information with any government, person or institution who wants assist in strengthening security in the Gulf of the Guinea.
Earlier, the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Daniel Bertrand officially presented a letter to the Minister requesting for the support of the Nigerian government for the Belgium candidate for the position at the International Maritime Organisation.
Bertrand also mentioned that they have observed with keen interest what is happening in the Gulf of Guinea and would like to be of assistance and give support to the implementation of the maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.
According to him; “the crisis in our maritime sector is the maritime insecurity and it is more complex than the world knows, but the Federal Government has come up with a solution and it is ready to take off. The Navy, Police, Army and State Security Service are involved.”
Amaechi said the workability of the initiative would translate into a greater improvement in maritime security in the country and other nations in the gulf of Guinea, who can thereafter adopt it.
He said: “65% or 75% of crime comes from our water and if we are able to eliminate it then we will be making a lot of progress.
“If you are in the air, you see what is happening in the water, you are inside the water, you will be able to respond, the helicopter has the capacity to drop in the Naval men when they see anything suspicious”, he said.
He expressed the readiness to partner and share information with any government, person or institution who wants assist in strengthening security in the Gulf of the Guinea.
Earlier, the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Daniel Bertrand officially presented a letter to the Minister requesting for the support of the Nigerian government for the Belgium candidate for the position at the International Maritime Organisation.
Bertrand also mentioned that they have observed with keen interest what is happening in the Gulf of Guinea and would like to be of assistance and give support to the implementation of the maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea.