The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police in charge of Maritime, Mohammed Katsina has implored the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) to partner with the Police to ensure security at the ports and the entire maritime sector.
AIG Katsina made this call while addressing NAGAFF members who paid him a courtesy visit last week. He said that the vitality of the Police/ NAGAFF relationship would enable the Police fish out criminal activities speedily to avoid colossal damages.
“NAGAFF is going to play a strategic role in policing maritime in the nation because I’m very committed to community policing and it is from stakeholders like you (NAGAFF) that the Police can obtain the lead on certain issues of criminality. I advocate further relationships between NAGAFF and the Police through our Public Relations Officers” the AIG said.
The AIG, who had represented the Nigerian Police Force at the National Assembly for 5 years, revealed that a similar partnership between the Maritime Police and the Nigerian Navy had seen over 50 Police officers trained by the Navy to enable the Police officers better understand the dynamics of sea operations.
According to the AIG, this training has ensured that the Police is better equipped to protect the river fronts while the Navy protect the waters. Therefore, he called for regular joint meetings between both institutions as an avenue to share information on recent happenings in the sector.
He also urged members of NAGAFF not to turn a blind eye to any form of corruption at the ports.
Speaking on behalf of NAGAFF, the Chairman Board Of Trustees, Chief Chidiebere Enelamah affirmed that communication was germane to the partnership between the Police and the Association.
“You should notify us if our members are defaulting in any way and we are obliged to call your attention whenever we notice any anomally at the ports or when your officers err”, Enelamah said.
According to Enelamah, the reason for the visit was not just for courtesy but also to fully understand operations of the maritime command arm of the Nigerian Police Force and he further appealed to the AIG to pay a working visit to the NAGAFF headquarters.
