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Messy tales of a missing ship
FOR much of the past one week, Nigerians have been entertained surprisingly by the drama between the police and the naval chiefs, as the two security agencies traded accusations over the mysterious disappearance of a ship - MT African Pride - detained for illegal oil bunkering at the country's territorial waters. Despite recent testimonies by the boss of the State Security Service and the managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the country is nowhere near resolving the mystery of the missing ship.
What is really revealing and indeed troubling about the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of the ship is that similar incidents may have occurred in the past. That much we were able to glean from the testimonies of various security chiefs to the House of Representatives' Committee on the Navy. If that were to be the case, Nigerian security agencies would be guilty of inadvertently or deliberately setting free ships and crewmembers arrested for serious crimes against the nation. That would be equivalent to security officers setting free accused persons who are awaiting trial by the law courts.
Where is MT African Pride, the latest symbol of illegal oil bunkering in Nigeria's territorial waters? This is a billion naira question. Anyone who has the right answer would have saved Nigeria's security chiefs sleepless nights and bouts of cold shivers. When did the ship disappear from the country's territorial waters? What was the ship doing in Nigeria when it was arrested? How much illegal oil did the ship hide in its bowels? How many crewmembers were found on the ship?
Under whose custody was the ship being held since it was seized for illegal oil bunkering? Could MT African Pride have left Nigerian waters without clearance by some senior security officers or without the connivance or assistance of some security personnel? These questions and many more have cut a huge hole in Nigeria's security machinery. The questions also raise serious issues of national concern - the ability or inability, preparedness or ill preparedness of Nigeria's security agencies to protect the country and its territories from foreign criminals and organisations.
There are many reasons why the story of the missing ship constitutes a major embarrassment to the nation and its security agencies. The missing ship epitomises a major security lapse by the security agencies and the carefree attitude with which we approach matters of national security. MT African Pride was arrested for illegal oil bunkering, so we were told. In Nigeria, illegal oil bunkering is a serious offence. Oil is a major foreign exchange earner for the country. In Nigeria, a valid oil bunkering licence makes a great deal of difference between those who have money and those who don't. It also distinguishes those who dine with the kings from the kingmakers. Oil bunkering is a big business. But illegal oil refuelling and marketing is even a bigger money-spinner. In that regard, oil is to Nigeria what gold is to countries that produce that gem. Anyone or organisation that engages in illegal oil bunkering must be deemed guilty of treason. The reason for this hardline approach is simple: every nation takes extraordinary measures to protect its sources of foreign revenue.
The activities of MT African Pride and its crew, including the circumstances that led to the mysterious disappearance, must be fully investigated at the highest level. The investigation must not end at the House of Representatives. The Presidency should institute its own investigation. Security officers responsible for the lapses that allowed the ship to escape must suffer the consequences of their recklessness. Whatever might be the true version of events, the police hierarchy, the naval chiefs and indeed the boss of any other security agency that was remotely connected with the custody of the ship and its criminal crewmembers must take action to save the face of the nation. It must be a serious action that should be beyond rebuke.
Unfortunately the police have started Nigeria's characteristic bandaid approach to security. The disappearance of MT African Pride has prompted police authorities to order all police formations to upgrade security within the country's territorial waters. The futility of this action is that the security instructions will be eased or relaxed the moment public outrage has faded away or the moment the investigation has been concluded. It's our farcical approach to events in the country. Do we need to experience a major security embarrassment or disaster before the security agencies realised the need, indeed urgent need to enhance security measures not only at the nation's seaports but also at the airports and other entry points into the country? Placing police marine formations on "red alert" days after the commencement of an enquiry into the disappearance of the ship is as artificial as wallpapering the cracks in the country's security apparatus. In matters of national security, the security agencies must adopt proactive rather than reactive strategies. The world of security has changed since the events of September 11, 2001.
The security agencies must sit up and understand that Nigeria is not immune to terrorist acts. Terrorists have successfully embarrassed security agencies and wreaked havoc and pain on innocent people by paying attention to those little things that security agencies overlook. While the rest of the world is tightening security measures to protect lives, property and national wealth, our security agencies cannot operate in the traditional spirit of business-as-usual. The world of security has changed and Nigeria's security agencies must respond to the changing security environment. Nowhere is safe anymore.
We live in an era of heightened violence fuelled by terrorism. Two weeks ago, the world watched as crazed gunmen and women, armed to their hilt with bombs and other explosive devices, held over 300 children and adults hostage in a school in Ossetia, Russia. Just last week in Indonesia, a group of suicide bombers detonated powerful explosives that killed no fewer than nine people near the Australian embassy in the capital city, Jakarta. Many people were wounded. Buildings and cars were damaged. These and other events in the world should inform our security agencies about the need to adopt a policy of eternal vigilance. Our inability to account for the movement of a huge vessel such as the MT African Pride is clear evidence that something is wrong with our apex security agencies.
The current investigation by the House of Representatives' Committee on the Navy has exposed the loopholes in our security system. But exposing the weaknesses in our security system should not be the sole objective of the investigation. Lessons ought to be learnt. Penalties should be imposed judiciously on everyone found to have contributed to the unauthorised disappearance of the ship. And tighter security measures should follow such an inquiry. In spite of the genuineness of the House of Representatives' Committee to uncover the mystery about the missing ship, I do not think the outcome would prevent future recurrence. Our political leaders are long on talk and short on action " that is our trademark.
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