By Atevure Princess,

Stakeholders from the coastal and riverine communities in Niger Delta region, have warned against the abrupt dismantling of Secure Anchorage Area SAA in Lagos being handled by a capable and competent indigenous company.

The stakeholders also faulted the plot by the Ministry of Transportation and Nigerian Port Authority NPA to terminate the contract of Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, a Nigerian firm, operators of the Secure Anchorage Area.

The Niger Delta Coastal and Riverine Communities Association NDCRA, in a statement issued by Tamuno George, Abiye Daukuru, and John Alex, said Mariners, ship owners and businessmen plying the territorial waters and patronizing the Anchorage are worried over the plot to dismantle same.

They said the Israeli government will never contract the security of their country’s waterways to a Nigerian firm or foreigners, and wondered why the Nigerian Ministry of Transportation contemplating on contracting the security of Nigeria watersway to an Israeli firm.

” why do we always please foreigners to displease our people. We are very sure that our amiable President, Buhari will not support such actions by Ministry of Transportation putting the safety and security of our watersway in the hands of unknown foreigners. The President should call the gladiators of the unpatriotic act to order”.

” We are very comfortable with Ocean Marine Solutions Limited, which been effective in terms of delivery and community relations. We are proud sympathizers and supporters of the President Buhari’s commitment toward local content both in the agricultural, oil and gas sector”

” It was totally wrong for the Ministry of Transportation under President Buhari’s administration contracting the security of our waterways to an Israeli firm, with no knowledge of the terrain. It is like hiring foreign mercenaries to fight in an unknown zone, this is contrary to President Buhari’s agenda and most effective policing anywhere in the world”.

” We are calling on President Buhari to look into the Secure Anchorage Area and prevail on Ministry of Transportation, Nigerian Port Authority NPA, and Nigerian Maritime Safety Administration NIMASA, and the Nigerian Navy to correct this monumental error to dismantle the Anchorage”.