The House of Representatives has mandated the Chief of Naval Staff and heads of relevant security agencies to take urgent and proactive steps against pirates terrorising fishermen on the Akwa Ibom State waterways.
This followed a motion on Thursday by the lawmaker representing Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/ Eastern Obolo Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Alphonsus Uduak, who told his colleagues that fishermen in his state were under the stranglehold of pirates, who kill, maim and also subject them to the payment of between N400,000 and N600,000 monthly royalties to be able to operate on the waterways.
His motion was titled “Urgent need to stop the continuous killings of fishermen by pirates terrorising Akwa Ibom State Waterways.”
Speaking to the motion, Uduak, drew the attention of his colleagues to “the persistent activities of sea pirates, which, of course, has continually aggravated threats to users of waterways, including fishermen, who are often vulnerable, thereby truncating their trades and adversely impacting on the economy of Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large.”
The lawmaker said only last week, pirates killed nine fishermen and inflicted gunshot and machete injuries on 15 others in Uta Ewa, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area within the Akwa Ibom State waterways.
“We are worried that in few weeks, pirates have seized more than 200 wooden boats belonging to fishermen in the aforementioned coastal line and further worried that fishermen are currently living at the mercies of these pirates and are often forced to pay royalties ranging from N400, 000 to N600, 000 monthly before exploring the waterways, failure which they risk attacks.”
Following the adoption of the motion, the House referred the motion to its Committees on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration as well as Legislative Compliance for compliance.
