Merchant Sail Navy Seeks Legislative Support To Carryout Waterways Security
…Celebrates 1-Year Anniversary, Passing Out Parade
A group known as; Merchant Sail Navy, has called for legislative backing from the Federal Government in order to enhance its operations in the country and to support the Nigerian Navy in implementing waterways security.
The group also offered to assist the government in ensuring that boat mishaps are reduced to the barest minimum on the waterways while assuring safety of lifes and properties of waterways passengers.
The Commander General of Merchant Sail Navy Captain JohnLinus Okoronkwo stated this after the successful 1st Anniversary celebration of the outfit and its passing out parade.
He said the body has an operation office in Abia State, a registered office in Rivers State, and capacity to operate in the 36 States of the federation.
According to a press statement on Friday, Capt Okoronkwo stated that the Merchant Sail Navy is established and incorporated as a Security outfit that maintains high level of vigilance under the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja which operates under the Laws of Companies and Allied Matters Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the group can effectively compliment the efforts of other security agencies in protecting lives and properties.
According to him “The Association remained committed in supporting the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in overcoming the nation’s security challenges”
“Officers and men of Merchant Sail Navy are adequately trained on marine and community policing duties to enhance security at the grassroot and one of the organization objective is to regulate Maritime Activities and to Protect Lives and Properties of citizens”
Speaking Further, He explain how Merchant Sail Navy can help the government in curbing accidents on waterways.
Capt Okoronkwo said “The organisation needs to have speedboats, hilux and station bit at all the jetties across the country in order to take records of commercial passengers through the Manifest and to issue out safety equipments to the Passengers such as
Life Jackets & Vests and other Safety & Flotation Devices and to regulate when the safety equipments need to be replaced”
He stated that the Merchant Sail Navy will help other Security outfits in stopping of illegal oil activities as part of her objectives.
He however warned the unemployed Maritime graduates and other Maritime Associations not part of the Merchant Sail Navy to stop impersonating with the name of the Merchant Sail Navy.
He stressed the need for the creation of job opportunities for youths in the country, adding that if this done, the level of waterways insecurity would be reduced.
