NIMASA should adopt regional approach against toxic waste dumping ―FISON

FISHING trawler operators under the aegis of the Fishery Society of Nigeria (FISON) have expressed concern over what they say is the increasing rate of illegal fishing and dumping of hazardous wastes in Nigeria’s territoral waters.

This is even as the fish trawlers advised the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to adopt a regional approach by liaising with countries it has contiguous exclusive economic zones within the sub-region to develop the capacity and acquire the logistics to tackle the challenge.

A member of the FISON, Gbolahan Adetona, while speaking to newsmen recently explained that dumping of toxic waste in the maritime domain and crimes on the coastline required the Federal Government and NIMASA commitment to building capacity.

He said Nigeria needed to work with its foreign partners to develop the capacity to tackle the problems.

According to Adetona, other regions have already developed frameworks for cooperation, pointing at the Horn of Africa where he said security experts had developed theories over the increasing hazardous wastes dumping and piracy.

He said Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand had set the stage for cooperation among states, through information exchange and mobilisation of resources.

Another member of the group, Mrs Lola Adebajo, observed that the insecurity in Africa’s waterways had forced insurers to hike rates for ships passing through the region.

Specifically, coastal and inland states had seen their vital trade links threatened by pirates, a situation that led to rising costs that their populations must bear.

She said “there are no clear answers as to the best ways to ensure maritime security, nor are there clear answers as to what percentage of resources nations should allocate to maritime security to best facilitate the goal of furthering development,” she said.

Since piracy is not the only threat to maritime security, another FISON member, Mr Sesan Olanipekun, advised the government to adopt best practices that can be implemented.