Organisers of the upcoming maritime summit on Drug and Human Trafficking have announced the attendance of both the United States of America (USA) and France Embassies to the all important forum
The event oganised by the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) and the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO), is scheduled to hold on Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos by 10am.
Chairman, AMANO/MASPAN Planning Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, revealed these during a press conference which held at the secretariat of Maritime Reporter’s Association of Nigeria (MARAN) on Friday.
According to him, the event would be chaired by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
Maiguwa stated that AMANO and MASPAN have become concerned with the rising incidents of large quantities of drugs found on ships arriving at Nigerian ports, as well as sustained cases of stowaways found on ships departing the nation’s ports.
His words: “Ships have been detained for several months while their crew were placed on trial and forced to remain without seeing their families for several years in cases of drug smuggling.
“At the end of this conference, we hope that stakeholders will arrive at workable solutions and mandate a working group to ensure the actualisation of the resolutions reached.
“On the part of Human Trafficking, cases of stowaways, especially in Lagos ports, have continued to cause delays to vessels when they are found before vessel departure.
“Cases where discoveries were not made before departure have continued to burden shipowners because of the very complex administrative protocols involved in handling stowaways on ships.”
Maiguwa posited that organising the event became pertinent having considered the disruption drug and human trafficking activities can pose to shipping operations via increased cost and the traumatic experience on seafarers.
“The goal is to align with critical agencies in making sure that Drug and Human Smuggling/Trafficking in the maritime domain are reduced; if not eradicated, perpetrators are penalised in a way innocent parties are not made to pay the price, and the industry is not deprived of its growth potentials,” he said.
“We have equally secured the support of the key agency responsible for narcotics in Nigeria, the National Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which has committed to fully participating in the panel discussion.
“The Embassies of the United States and France, the international and local shipping companies have also shown keen interest and are set to attend the event,” the maritime Expert announced.
Stressing that the event is strictly by invitation and registration, the organisers encouraged stakeholders with interest to contact the planning committee via the numbers on the event flyer to book the few remaining seats.