Firm seeks NIMASA’s intervention to halt ‘illegal’ scrapping of Ngol Dande 1

Prima Maritime Logistics Consultancy & Services Limited, led by Managing Director Alim Simon Max Ganga, has sought the urgent intervention of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on halting a developing maritime dispute.
The concerned company had alleged significant misconduct by Bizonal Success Nigeria Limited, its contractual partner, which resulted in a dispute that centers on the operation and management of the MV Aaliyah, which was engaged in a towage operation for another vessel, MT Ngol Dande 1.
According to Vitalis Ahaotu, the lawyer to Prima Maritime, the troubles started after the MV Aaliyah arrived in Luanda, Angola, on March 6, 2023, to tow the MT Ngol Dande 1, and upon arrival, the crew and vessel were detained under allegations of piracy, purportedly due to fraudulent purchase documents provided by Bizonal’s representative, Alhaji Yinusa Abioye Bola.
This incident, he said sparked a series of court cases and international litigation. The crew were jailed for four months and three days.
Ahaotu further explained that Alhaji’ Bola reportedly collected €11,000 intended for purchasing fuel and food but has not returned the funds.
He added that more troubling is Prima Maritime’s claims Bola was aware that the vessels involved were stolen but failed to disclose this critical information before the towing operation.
He noted that the MV Aaliyah successfully towed MT Ngol Dande 1 to Nigerian waters on July 31, 2024, but since then, Bola has allegedly refused to fulfill financial obligations amounting to $876,462.
Ahaotu further explained that Bola has begun scrapping MT Ngol Dande 1, raising suspicions that he may be acting with the complicity of officials at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), a strategy to evade repayment by dismantling the evidence against him.
He said: “Prima Maritime contends that Bola and his company lack the necessary permits to scrap ships and have not registered MT Ngol Dande 1 with the appropriate Nigerian authorities.
“Kaluokoro orji cyril is the captain who was detained together with his crew for four months in Angola, in his words; “we were detained four months and 3 days, it was like living in hell, they fed us with flour and water they call soup,the food were kept outside for flies to perch on them and then given to us the next day to eat.
“We were treated like slaves, we slept on bare floor, even when it rains,I developed ulcer and pneumonia. Me and crew suffered it was a bitter experience.
“17 months of no salary, Mr. Simon has paid 2 Million to each crew, but he needs Alhaji to pay him so he can pay us the balance.
“Alhaji Bola has commenced illegal scrapping MT Ngol Dande 1 at nights,without the required permits , which indicates possible complicity within NIMASA or that NIMASA is simply looking away; help us tell Alhaji to pay us our salaries.”