Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, said yesterday that no fewer than 4,606 suspects were arrested for various maritime crimes between 2015 and 2024 in communities within riverine areas.
He lamented that limited community support emboldens maritime criminals, knowing that they may not be reported or caught in Nigeria.
Vice Admiral Ogalla disclosed this while presenting the third distinguished personality lecture at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, IPSS, University of Ibadan with the theme: “Role of the Nigerian Navy in Combatting Maritime Crimes for Enhanced Blue Economy in Nigeria”.
He said the navy has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensure a secure environment, necessary for the development of the blue economy.
The chief of naval staff disclosed that the navy is already pushing for powers to prosecute offenders in the core areas of its mandate.
He noted that some community leaders who justify the criminal behaviour of criminals complicate maritime law enforcement efforts and pose a significant challenge to maritime security, adding that, “It also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive, society-wide solutions to address root causes of maritime criminality, which threatens the successful exploitation of Blue economy potentials in Nigeria”.
He called for the establishment of special courts dedicated to maritime crimes to ensure effective and efficient justice delivery, ultimately resulting in better outcomes for law enforcement.
He expressed optimism that the speedy prosecution of maritime crimes will improve data collection and analysis that are crucial for policy and legislative formulation in combating maritime crimes and for the development of the blue economy.
Speaking on transportation along the waterways which generates approximately $1.2 billion, the naval chief noted that the evolving “dynamics of maritime crimes could negatively affect the prospects, hence the need for pragmatic solutions to address the threats”.
While listing non-diligent prosecution of maritime crimes as one of the challenges facing the navy in combating maritime crimes, Vice Admiral Ogalla stated: “The Nigerian Navy and other law enforcement agencies have made commendable efforts in the arrest and prosecution of maritime offenders.
“However, inadequacies such as prolonged trial periods are being exploited by criminals. This has led to protracted litigation and several abandoned vessels across Nigerian Navy Bases.
“Between 2015 till date, 250 vessels arrested were handed over to prosecuting agencies, yet only 82 have been successfully prosecuted, leaving a balance of 168 still in Nigerian Navy’s custody. In the last six years, the navy lost a significant number of cases for non-diligent prosecution of maritime suspects by these prosecuting agencies.
“Likewise, over N450 million for legal services are provided for these private lawyers at the expense of essential infrastructure for the service to combat maritime crimes.
“These waterways provide vital access to 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states and connect six neighbouring countries. Nigeria’s maritime domain also has the most fertile hydrocarbon provinces in the world, underscoring its strategic importance”.
Earlier in his welcome address, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administration, Professor Peter Olapegba agreed that “a secure maritime domain is essential for the protection of our territorial integrity, safeguarding of our economic interests and the well-being of millions of Nigerians who depend on the sea for their livelihoods.
