Two stakeholders in the maritime industry, the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) and Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO) have joined forces to brainstorm on some critical issues plaguing the maritime sector of the economy and beyond in its 2024 conference.
Scheduled to take place on August 22, 2024 at Eko Hotels and Suits, the conference with the theme “Drug and Human Smuggling/Trafficking: The Evolving Maritime Security Threats to Ships and Seafarers” is expected to take a critical look at the rising spate of drug and human trafficking through the seas which jeopardises the safety and security of the shipping industry.
Participants at the conference are expected to seek lasting solutions to this scourge and find more efficient ways to handle the challenge in the maritime domain.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that the keynote paper at the one day event will be delivered by a Hong Kong based internationally renowned shipping expert, Captain Suresh Prabhakar.
Those expected to attend include the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola who is expected to be the chairman of the occasion; Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio; Speaker, House of Representatives; Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa (retired); and the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administrative and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola.
Others are the Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nanna Nandap; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Alhaji Abubakar Dantsoho; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; President, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Alhaji Aminu Umar; Director General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Professor Fatima Waziri-Azi; and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun.
The organisers in a statement made available to Maritime Bits, quoted the Co-Chairperson of the Planning Committee, Mr. Agassi Peter Jonathan saying that MASPAN and AMANO realized the urgent need to address this malaise before it escalates and negatively impacting the efforts of developing blue economies.
“The recent rise in drug and human smuggling/trafficking through the seas jeopardises the safety and security of the shipping industry which is a vital sector for global trade. It adds burden to shipping companies and seafarers which is a key to the development of shipping, marine and blue economy.
“The MASPAN-AMANO 2024 Conference is geared towards drawing over 300 stakeholders including ship owners, ship operators, seafarers, policymakers, regulatory agencies like NIMASA, Nigeria Customs Services, NPA, NDLEA, NAPTIP, Nigerian Navy amongst others that can deliberate objectively on the theme to arrive at a sustainable solution that will resonate within the industry,” the statement added.
