The managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko has explained reasons why vessels engaged in crude oil theft on Nigerian waters go undetected.
Koko who disclosed this to State House correspondents yesterday during the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential communication said it is
because they turn off their Automatic Identification System (AIS).
According to him, such ships evade arrest because they switch off their onboard automated identification system which displays the vessel’s position in the vicinity.
He noted that the authority does not have the required technology to detect their origin or destination.Speaking against the backdrop of a recent incident where an oil tanker evaded arrest in Nigeria after illegally lifting crude oil, Koko said the NPA is now in the process of procuring the technology called the Vessel Tracking Service (VTS) to enable it to identify, locate and monitor all vessels in the nation’s waters.
According to him, the agency has been trying to acquire the VTS for about 10 years now and has just identified a certified consultant, while also working with the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG) Company to help with critical detection.
He further assured that the technology will be procured before the end of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also said that they are installing Automatic Identification System to monitor movement of vessels.
On VTS, he said, “it is a system that communicates with the AIS, the AIS is on the vessel and that is the one they switch off to avoid being dictated by the VTS. VTS is actually a tracking system that can track any vessel that is coming, the AIS is a tracking device that can communicate with the VTS but to avoid detection they switch it off and anytime it comes up, the VTS will still bring all the details of the vessel.”
On whether there is punishment for any vessel that switches off the AIS to perpetuate crime on the sea, he said, such vessel if dictated, would be blacklisted by the government.
He also lamented that incessant theft of buoys, navigational equipment, has compounded the challenges of safety, thereby dissuading foreign ships from plying Nigeria’s Eastern maritime corridor.
Major ports along the Eastern water ways are in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Onne, and Warri.
Each of the buoys, which serve as navigational route signs, cost between N12 million and N20 million, whereas no fewer than 25 of these maritime safety equipment have been stolen from Nigerians waters this year alone
He also described the Onne Port as the fastest growing port, booming with import and export activities.
Koko added that the management of the authority said that it generated N172 billion in the first half of 2022 and has earmarjed $1.3 billion for the Lekki Deep Ports.
According to him, about ten export processing terminals where exporters can package and label containers before being taken to the ports have been licensed.
He explained that apart from the cost of the buoys, it is even costly to install and deploy them on the waters.
Koko lamented that the absence of these buoys put ships at risk of sailing aground, a fear that many foreign ship captains prefer to stay off parts of Nigerian waters, which consequently affect government revenue at the affected ports.
As part of measures to stop the trend, the NPA boss said the Authority had been engaging with the locals and their leaders in the areas and communities where the theft occur, explaining to them how their local economy is also negatively affected by the incidents.
These buoys stolen by the vandals are often turned into scrap, he stated.
He also explained that in some cases, the communities may not be aware that the vandals operate within their vicinity, adding that in some cases the buoys are affected by nature.
He said some of the buoys “have solar panels and sensors; and there is a beacon light there that flashes at night. So the first thing they do is to vandalise that sensor.
“And then you just have iron that has no light, and they can just drag it, cut off these …that is what they do.
“We can monitor it if it is not disconnected. Atimes we send in our boats to go round scouting for it. And to also be fair to the communities. We have had some instances where the buoys were naturally taken away by nature, they went adrift, they ended up on the shore of some communities.
“And to be fair to them, they have actually called us a couple of times to tell us that there’s a buoys that has gone adrift and it is in our community. And we thank them for that.
“We believe probably the communities do not even know the individuals that are involved in these activities. So we are monitoring the buoys. And that’s how we got to know how many are stolen any day it’s stolen.
“Because the captains are also taking vessels in and out of the water channels, they will naturally know when they can t find the beacons on the buoys, meaning that something is missing, and they normally report it.”
He said efforts have not been spared to make the Eastern maritime corridor viable for investors.
According to him, the Calabar and Onne Ports are now ISO-certified and have seen tremendous increase in traffic, not just imports but also exports, with Onne becoming the fastest-growing port in Nigeria today, he said
“In Onne being the fastest
In terms of export also, there is an export processing terminal within Onne itself. One of the terminal operators created an export processing terminals which we licensed and they have all the equipment, the technology and the processes to send it out
“One of the terminal operators also expanded their terminals, they have spent about $100 million dollars in terms of terminal expansion, that is West African Container Terminal. And so they have created more strategic areas, they are able to collect more cargo, and they don’t have space problems actually. And they have newer equipment, they have cranes, they have RTGS, and so on and so forth.
“So probably, if you’re able to send in your cargo and clear it faster naturally, you are likely to go there also.”
Koko further said, “In terms of percentage input, Onne has done 11,800 metric tons half of this year. We are seeing that the increase in percentage is high, probably because it’s easier to do business in Onne now.
“And because we have deployed more equipment in Onne, more personnel, we have paid attention to ensure that we made the port more competitive. In terms of export also, there’s an export processing terminal within Onne itself.”
He further revealed that one of the Terminal Operators there – West Africa Container Terminal (WACT) – has invested more than $100m in terminal expansion, deployment of equipment and technology
On the issue of inland ports, the NPA MD said the Nigeria Shippers Council is responsible for the setting up and the operations of the inland ports.
He, however, added, “I know that there is a collaboration between the inland ports and our terminal operators, what we have requested the terminal operators to do is to enter a relationship with the inland ports so that an inland port in Ilorin, in Sokoto or in Onitsha or wherever can use let’s say in Onitsha, the point of destination will be Onitsha but of course it will naturally come through one of the ports either Lagos, Apapa or Tin Can.
“So that relationship is there, some of them are talking with APMT others and discussing with other people, there are issues to do with the tariffs and also in terms of payment, the issue of charges for empty containers because of course they will use containers to send in the cargo to the hinterlands to the dry ports.
“So these are issues that have been discussed. Some of the terminal operators have requested for bonds from the inland dry ports some of the inland reports are saying don’t charge us double reduce these tariffs because for the inland dry ports to be competitive, their cost should be as minimal as possible. And we believe that that collaboration has worked …we have seen activity has increased.”
Speaking on the dredging of other ports especially in the eastern corridor, he said, “The dredging of other ports or other rivers. when you dredge other rivers what you have done is that you have increased the length of navigable river parts throughout the country.
“We are working with the Nigerian Inland waterways they are doing their studies we are working with them, but for now what they are using is badges, they are using badges for instance for Onne to Onitsha. They are using badges to other locations which we keep encouraging and whenever the need arises, we will continue that collaboration to ensure that the dredging of those rivers take place.”
Koko also said that to discourage shipping lines from making the country a dumping ground with empty containers, 46 Container Holding Bays have been created and 17 truck packs established.
