The Federal Government has been advised to eradicate water front attacks on vessels sailing the nation’s port.

Managing Director of Union Admiralty Nigeria Limited (UANL) Mr. Ibi Seddon, who spoke with Vanguard in his office in Lagos noted that though efforts of the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) led to a reduction of such incidents in 2014; there is need to completely deal with the issue in the new year, 2015 if the nation’s ports are the hub for sub-region.

According to Seddon, “There is improvement on the issue of attacks of vessels. Last year, we had a few cases, the military and the Nigerian Navy have collaborated with the NIMASA and they have done a lot particularly in Lagos waters.

“We had one or two cases, but I think in the last half of 2014, we did not record any serious matter. Although Captains of the (visiting) vessels are also advised to keep a reasonable distance away so they can be free, but a good job has been done by NIMASA.

The Union Admiralty Nigeria Limited boss called on the federal government to improve infrastructure in Apapa which host the biggest and busiest port in the country.

He called for special attention to be paid on the condition of roads in and around the port town as well as connection of the port with rail.

“But let us go back to Apapa as the main shipping port for Nigeria. The roads are down, the export rate is terribly low because the freight is high and this is because ships come in and don’t have access to go. I am collating a document to prove this fact, but look at vessels coming in and going out, you will find out that the number of vessels that came in 2014 are not as much as that of 2013.

“But even if the goods come into the port, last two years, we were fighting to decongest the port and now we have not come to that but with the rate we are going, as soon as business kicks off in 2015, we might end up having congestion

“They cannot go out because of bad roads, bad infrastructure. Even coming to Apapa with small cars, sometimes it takes us four hours. One of the outlets is totally condemned. I feel the federal government should take that road as priority and look at how possible 2015 we can improve the infrastructure, particularly road so that goods will be able to move more freely,” he concluded.