By Israel Ajenu
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency have said that despite Nigeria’s huge investment in maritime security, the country still pays War Risk Insurance Premiums on Nigeria-bound cargoes.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this on Thursday in Lagos when he received a team from the Denmark Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mobereola urged the international community to look into the continuous payment of this premium on Nigeria-bound cargoes despite the drop in piracy within the nation’s waters.
Represented at the event by the Executive Director, Finance & Administration, Chudi Offodile, Mobereola announced that the agency is collaborating with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
“We have also had capacity development programmes in conjunction with the centre. We hope for more collaboration with the Kofi Annan Centre on issues relating to conflict resolution, peacekeeping, and security.
“Despite these efforts, Nigeria has not seen a commensurate response in terms of a reduction in the War Risk Insurance premium and the cost of freight movement,” Mobereola said.
He said that the agency is looking forward to having exchange programmes involving NIMASA and the Danish Maritime Institution to facilitate knowledge sharing.
“I think it was in November 2023 that we had this media training conducted in partnership with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre,” Mobereola said.
According to him, after the training, there has been a notable improvement in maritime reporting by Nigerian media practitioners.
The NIMASA DG underscored the role of the media in maritime awareness, adding that NIMASA will continue to support capacity development in that regard. He mentioned that the agency is looking at how the international community responded to Nigeria’s efforts in combating maritime insecurity.
Earlier, the leader of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms Kristin Skov-Spilling, explained that the visit was for the team to hear about Nigeria’s experience cooperating with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
