As part of efforts to ensure safer waterways, the federal government has deployed radar and more patrol boats to monitor Nigeria’s territorial waters.

This development follows reports that some unscrupulous elements want to use the waterways to perpetrate crime ahead of the 2015 general elections.

Nigeria’s apex maritime regulatory authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) however assured that the federal government is committed to ensuring safer waterways in Lagos.

According to NIMASA Director of Shipping Development, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, the moves were aimed at preventing the uncontrolled entry of foreign ships into Nigerian waters.

“The problem is that we have a lot of foreign ships coming in carrying foreign guards. There is reason to believe these foreign guards are trained in handling of arms. There is no doubt about it. This poses a danger to our own security. As you well know, a whole lot of arms come in and found themselves in the hands of people, possibly not even trained to handle them legally,” he said.
Enisuoh explained that no waterway in the world is totally safe, hence every country must be responsible for the protection of its own waterways.