The Nigerian Navy has decried the growing menace of stowaways in Lagos waters, saying it apprehended no fewer than 75 stowaways from August 2023 to April 2024.

The Director of Information, Nigerian Navy, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Adams-Aliu said the Nigerian Navy was concerned by the upsurge in cases of stowaways in Nigerian waters.

According to him, the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL Convention) defines a stowaway as someone who is secreted on a ship, or in cargo without consent of the shipowners or the master or any other responsible person.

He said migration as a stowaway was illegal, dangerous, and considered a security threat to shipowners.

Adams-Aliu said the navy had, in line with the strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, deployed advanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) equipment to vector Quick Response Teams (QRT) to all parts of Nigeria’s territorial waters.

He said the navy apprehended five stowaways in August 2023 on MSC Martha Vessel in Lagos Channel; eight on Charminar Panama in September 2023 in Lagos Fairway Buoy, and 11 on Guangzhou Highway Panama in October 2023 in Lagos Channel.

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The navy spokesperson added that eight stowaways were apprehended on NATAL in Lagos Fairway Buoy in November 2023 and 20 stowaways on Container Vessel TEME, Grande Guinea and MT UOG Constantine, all in Lagos Channel and Lagos Fairway Buoy, in December 2023.

Adams-Aliu further disclosed that 23 stowaways were apprehended between January and April, all in Lagos Channel and Fairway Buoy.

He said: “During the operations, the QRT carefully extracted the stowaways who had concealed themselves inside the rudder compartment of the vessels.

“All apprehended stowaways were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in accordance with the established protocols for further necessary action.

“The Nigerian Navy wishes to enlighten the general public on the dangers of attempting to travel as a stowaway. These include severe legal consequences and significant health risks such as negative effects of harsh weather conditions, lack of food and water, injuries and even death.

“Hence, the Nigerian Navy uses this opportunity to discourage Nigerian youths from embarking on such misadventures.”

The Star