The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has called for a military-led patrol of Nigerian maritime domain to reduce incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

This is contained in a statement by the Head, Public Relations Department in NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Tuesday, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The statement noted that Peterside stated this when he visited the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Ibok Ete-Ibas and the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Abuja.

The director-general said that the rising incidents of piracy had affected the economic fortunes of the nation and urged the military to initiate a joint patrol of the maritime domain to curb the trend.

Peterside acknowledged the gallantry of officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the fight against insurgency.

He described maritime security as national and international obligation of all stakeholders.

The director-general also called on the Nigerian Navy to continue with the good job of fighting piracy which they had been doing.

He also assured the CNS of NIMASA’s resolve to strengthen the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Navy to eradicate piracy and other criminal activities on Nigerian waters.

Responding, Ete-Ibas congratulated Peterside on his appointment as the director-general of NIMASA.

He pledged the support of the Nigerian Navy to continue to partner with NIMASA in maintaining safety and security on Nigerian waters.

The CNS stated that as a strategy against piracy, the Nigerian Navy had deployed boat houses at the entry points of the creeks.

Ete-Ibas said the Navy was in the process of inaugurating a surveillance system being developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser to increase its domain awareness.

Buratai pledged the support of the Amphibious Brigade of the Nigerian Army to collaborate with NIMASA and other stakeholders to maintain security in Nigerian waters.

The COAS noted that the Nigerian Army had the capacity to protect Nigeria’s maritime assets.

He also expressed the commitment of the Army in reducing incidents of piracy, kidnapping and oil theft in the Niger Delta. (NAN)

•Photo shows Dr Dakuku Peterside.