COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A GENERAL STAKEHOLDERS CONFERENCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND GOVERNANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT FACILITY SECURITY (ISPS) CODE 10 – 11 JUNE 2013, LAGOS, NIGERIA

Desirous of aggregating stakeholders consensus for the effective implementation and governance of the ISPS Code sequel to the appointment of NIMASA as the Designated Authority (DA) for Nigeria, the General Stakeholders Conference was convened to provide a platform for presentation of NIMASA's plan of action and the collation of stakeholder feedback thereon to facilitate the setting of targets and determination of priorities.
In the course of the two-day interactive session, the following resolutions were proposed:

Desirous of aggregating stakeholders consensus for the effective implementation and governance of the ISPS Code sequel to the appointment of NIMASA as the Designated Authority (DA) for Nigeria, the General Stakeholders Conference was convened to provide a platform for presentation of NIMASA's plan of action and the collation of stakeholder feedback thereon to facilitate the setting of targets and determination of priorities.
In the course of the two-day interactive session, the following resolutions were proposed:
1.    That there is need for all relevant Government Agencies and stakeholders to adopt a cooperative and collaborative approach towards the successful implementation of the ISPS Code through information/asset sharing and other necessary measures;
2.      That in addition to the personnel of relevant Government maritime Agencies, there is need to extend ISPS training to personnel of Department of State Services (DSS), Immigration, Customs, Nigerian Navy and other government Agencies at the ports to ensure that their actions are not inimical to the successful implementation of the Code;
3.    That there is need to urgently reduce to the barest minimum, the number of Agencies operating within port facilities and indeed control human traffic through the introduction of robust access control measures;
4.    That to distinguish between ISPS compliant and non-compliant port facilities, NIMASA should hoist IMO and Nigerian flags at facilities that have been fully certified under the IMO regime;
5.    That there is need for clear definition of roles of all Agencies performing security related functions in the ports, especially within the context of the ISPS Code;
6.    That the Nigerian Government will take all necessary steps and introduce measures considered essential to address the issues raised by the United States of America Government in their assessment of the implementation of the ISPS Code;
7.    That a command and control centre for ISPS Code implementation should be established and domiciled in NIMASA;
8.    That a monthly forum of PFSOs should henceforth hold across all maritime zones to be created by the DA in consultation with stakeholders;
9.    That only the DA has the authority to conduct ISPS related training in Nigeria and any certificates issued sequel to training conducted without its authority shall not be recognized;
10.    That only the DA, in consultation with other relevant security Agencies, is authorized to set and change security levels and;
That the DA will mass produce copies of the ISPS Code and distribute as widely as possible amongst stakeholders, especially participants at the Conference.