05 September 2018

Nigeria must remove abandoned vessels from its waters


News that some three thousand abandoned and disused ships are littering Nigeria’s coasts and waterways only serves to underline the toxic mix of environmental neglect, institutional paralysis and security failure that has come to characterise the national predicament.

Nigeria is one of the most comprehensive junkyards in the world. Its roads and expressways are littered with unserviceable vehicles that have often been there for years. Its major airports are full of disused aircraft. Its markets teem with fake and pirated products. Far too many of its oilfields are ecological disasters. It has even served as a dumping-ground for toxic waste, as exemplified in the Koko tragedy of 1988.

Now, the thousands of rusting hulks defacing the nation’s waters have made their unwelcome presence felt. Apparently attracted by lax regulation and virtual non-enforcement, unscrupulous shippers have hit upon the tactic of dumping clapped-out vessels in Nigerian waters, instead of undertaking the costly and complicated process of dismantling them properly.

Apart from being unsightly blots which detract from the natural beauty of Nigeria’s shoreline, these wrecks pose a very real threat, given that so many are dumped in heavily-used shipping lanes. They often block the natural flow of water, thereby accelerating erosion and flooding in coastal settlements.

They leak oil and poisonous chemicals into the water, killing fish and other marine life, and cause great loss for fishing communities that are dependent upon the sea for their livelihoods. Their very presence is a troubling indicator of the increased lawlessness of Nigeria’s coasts, which are now ranked among the most dangerous on the continent.

Neither the Nigerian Navy nor the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has been able to curb the menace of ship-dumping in Nigerian waters. In 2011, the number of shipwrecks was put at about 100. The fact that there are now some 3,000 vessels points to a failure of the organisations entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the country’s waters free of wrecks.

The navy has been particularly disappointing in this regard. In spite of its regular patrols aimed at illegal oil-bunkering, smuggling and piracy, it has apparently been singularly unable to apprehend those who dump unserviceable ships in the act. NIMASA, too, cannot be exonerated from blame. The agency appears to have paid far too much attention to the juicier parts of its remit to the detriment of this menace. It cannot claim ignorance of the growing numbers of shipwrecks littering Nigerian coasts, nor should it expect praise now that it has belatedly become aware of the problem now that there are thousands of them.

Given the urgency of the country’s shipwreck situation, it is imperative that relevant laws like the Merchant Shipping Act of 2007 be enforced strictly. This means identifying existing shipwrecks where possible, tracing their owners and imposing penalties that will cover the cost of removing them. Greater attention must be paid to the enforcement of ship-handling and berthing procedures. The navy must be given greater resources to enable it to do its job more effectively.

Efficient monitoring systems should be set up, involving satellite reconnaissance and naval patrols of coastal communities. The moment a shipwreck is reported, it should trigger a comprehensive response aimed at apprehending those who dumped it before they are able to escape. Rewards for assistance in catching ship-dumpers might turn apathy into diligence.

Nigeria might also consider the possibility of establishing an integrated ship-breaking industry as a component of its shipping development policy. Unlike the unsavoury manifestations in India and Pakistan, this would be an ecologically-safe, labour-intensive business.

It would incorporate the dismantling of unserviceable vessels, the recovery of valuable metals and other products, and their recycling into useful material. It would also have the virtue of offering viable legal employment in the volatile Niger Delta and other coastal communities, provide a source of much-needed raw materials, stimulate industrial development, and turn a criminal activity into a profitable business.

Source: the nation online ng. 16 August 2018

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