The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, announced that from 2015 to 2024, a total of 4,606 suspects were arrested for various maritime-related offenses in communities within Nigeria’s riverine areas.
Vice Admiral Ogalla made this known on Friday while delivering the 3rd Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies (IPSS), University of Ibadan.
His presentation, titled “Role of the Nigerian Navy in Combating Maritime Crimes for Enhanced Blue Economy in Nigeria,” highlighted the importance of establishing special courts to handle cases involving maritime crimes to improve the prosecution process.
Ogalla also disclosed that during this period, 250 vessels involved in maritime crimes were handed over to prosecuting agencies. However, only 82 of these vessels have been successfully prosecuted, leaving 168 still under the custody of the Nigerian Navy.
He emphasized that the Navy remains committed to maintaining a secure maritime environment, which is crucial for the development of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Ogalla raised concerns about the role of some community leaders who, he claims, justify criminal activities, complicating efforts to enforce maritime laws and posing a significant threat to maritime security.
“These challenges call for comprehensive, society-wide strategies to tackle the root causes of maritime criminality, which endangers the potential of Nigeria’s blue economy,” Ogalla stated.
He further noted that speeding up the prosecution of maritime crimes would enhance data collection and analysis, which are vital for effective policymaking and legislation aimed at combating these crimes and promoting the blue economy.
Ogalla expressed concern over the inefficiency in prosecuting maritime suspects, pointing out that the Nigerian Navy has lost several cases due to a lack of diligence by prosecuting agencies.
He also mentioned that over N450 million has been allocated for legal services involving private lawyers, a cost that diverts resources away from crucial infrastructure needed to fight maritime crime effectively.
