To bolster the Port State Control (PSC) framework within the nation, the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS) has urged the United States Consulate to provide training to officials from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The President of NCS, Alhaji Aminu Umar, conveyed this request during a meeting held at the NCS headquarters in Lagos last week.
The Maritime Advisor to the United States Consulate, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Moon, and a delegation from the U.S. Consulate were in attendance.
Umar said, “We have encouraged the U.S. team to collaborate with Nigerian government regulatory agencies in training them on PSC practices. Given that the U.S. boasts one of the finest PSC systems globally, Nigeria stands to learn valuable insights from their expertise, and NCS is eager to facilitate this partnership.”
He expressed satisfaction that discussions had already commenced between U.S. representatives and certain Nigerian agencies. Umar affirmed, “We fully support this collaboration and are ready to contribute to discussions whenever the need arises.”
Umar, who also serves as the Chief Executive of Sea Transport Services Nigeria Limited, emphasized the Chamber’s desire to witness the U.S. team provide NIMASA with the necessary training to attain world-class standards, particularly in the implementation of the ISPS Code, a topic broached during a recent visit by U.S. Coast Guards to NIMASA headquarters.
Noting that both entities identified maritime security as a significant shared concern, especially for nations within the Gulf of Guinea (GOG), Umar pledged to engage NIMASA in further strengthening their partnership with the U.S. team.
He stated, “The primary purpose of the meeting was to connect with the Maritime Advisor to the U.S. Consulate General, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Moon, and the Economic Adviser, Ms. Jordan LaChance. Our discussions encompassed potential collaboration in terms of advocacy, policy enhancement, and capacity development.”
“We also examined avenues for bolstering capacity through training. The United States is a key player in global shipping and contributed extensively to human resource development in the maritime sector worldwide. In Africa, the U.S. has significantly contributed to enhancing maritime security, particularly in the GOG region.”
According to the NCS President, although the security landscape within the Nigerian maritime sector has improved in recent years compared to a decade or so ago, continuous enhancements and the integration of new technologies remain essential.
On his part, the Maritime Advisor of the U.S. Consulate Lagos, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Moon, highlighted the Nigerian maritime industry’s active role in ensuring safe and secure shipping on an international scale.
Moon, an officer of the U.S. Coast Guards, emphasized the significance of secure shipping to both the U.S. Coast Guards and the U.S. Consulate.
He remarked, “The U.S. Coast Guards were invited to the Consulate to facilitate closer ties and deeper understanding among stakeholders in the maritime industry, Nigerian regulators, and the Consulate General.”
Lieutenant Commander Patrick Moon was joined by the Economic Adviser to the U.S. Consulate, Ms. Jordan LaChance, and Ms. Ngozi Nkwoh. Attendees at the meeting included members of the NCS Governing Council, Mrs. Jean-Chiazor Anishere (SAN) and Ms. Ifeoma Nwagbogu, along with the Director General of NCS, Mrs. Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike.
