Press Releases

Fashola Stresses Need For Maritime Safety In Africa

Mar 23, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Monday stressed the need for Maritime safety on the African Continental waters, saying the spate of hijacks and piracy on the African waters calls for concern of all.

Governor Fashola, who spoke at the Lagos House Alausa while receiving the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Robin Renee Sanders and the Captain of the United States Navy and leader of the African Partnership Programme, Commodore Cynthia Thebaud, said maritime safety in Lagos and other coastal states of Nigeria has also been of particular concern to the government of Nigeria.

The Governor described as timely, the mission of the African Partnership Programme in Africa saying it answers the need to build capacity to tackle the challenges of piracy, hijacks and other crimes on the African Continental waters

Governor Fashola declared, “Clearly, Maritime Safety not only in this part of Africa, Lagos Nigeria and some of the coastal states of Nigeria, is something that I must say is a cause for concern, but also recent developments in the Continent in terms of hijacks and piracy and all of that clearly makes it timely to undertake this mission”.

He hoped that from the various seminars and trainings and capacity building opportunities that the mission offers, the representatives of the 20 African countries including the 300 Nigerians on the mission, would be able to not only get for but also transfer something across the Continent

According to the Governor, “For Lagos State, maritime safety is a challenge that we have no alternative but to rise up to especially as the water transportation facilities of Lagos State are in their infancy”.

“We are building jetties now to take advantage of the water transportation opportunities that clearly exist in our State”, the Governor said, pointing out that the pilot programme conducted by the Government shows that 10, 000 passengers are already being moved every week.

According to him, once the project takes off, the challenge of huge passenger traffic will be on hand to tackle by the Government, adding that as a result, safety of the waterways is something that has been receiving the attention and consideration of the Government.

“I will be pleased to get a report of some of the things you have found, some of the recommendations you think we should look at in terms of some of the things we are already doing that you think we can do better and some of the existing things you think we can do away with”, the Governor said, adding that the State Government is always responsive to change.

Also speaking, Commodore Cynthia Thebaud said the programme, which has representatives from 20 African countries, including 300 Nigerians, covers not only military training and activities but also capacity building in Maritime activities Education and Healthcare.

Earlier in her introductory remarks, Ambassador Sanders said her visit was to introduce the Captain of the United States Navy in charge of the African Partnership Programme saying some of the activities of the programme would be of benefit to the State.

The Ambassador, who said the 300 Nigerians who are part of the programme consist of both military and civilian personnel, pointed out that some of the activities of the Programme which centre on port survey would be of great use to the State Government as it looks at expansion of the ports.

Also present at the occasion were the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Mr. Jide Sanyaolu, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barrister Opeyemi Bamidele and other members of the State Executive Council as well as other top Government officials.