Do You Think That Nigeria Ports Can Be ISPS Code Compliant?

Frank Aliakor (ANLCA, Apapa)

Nigerian ports can be ISPS code compliant in the sense that, since after the 9/11 incident, Americans have already alerted the whole world including Nigeria on the need to be security conscious. Since that time, Nigeria has been conscious, even at our ports, we have been taking notes, putting men on ground at our border posts, seaports and so on, we have been working. I know that by the expiration of the notice given by the Americans, we will be on the same page with the rest of the world. Our navy is on ground, the air force at the airport, and the police at the port and so on, the only thing is that they need to add little effort to what they are doing so that we will not be taken unawares.

Eugene Nweke (NAGAFF President)

It becomes a national coerce if a ban will come from America, it all means that rather than picking up our cargo from Apapa port conveniently or from Onne port, we will be going to Ghana, this is because if a ban were to be given on Nigeria the world will respect that ban and the shipping world will respect that ban, this is not too good for us as an importing nation. NPA and NIMASA are the agencies that are supposed to monitor performance indicators, why have they been seating docile all this while until the world is saying all these, why is it that before now, the body that is supposed to monitor compliance from abroad have not said anything until now. This is why I say there is a political undertone to the whole issue. There is need for compliance because ISPS Code is a convention that should be respected.

Chiaka Nwogu (General Secretary, AMATO)
Yes, our port can be ISPS Code compliant, the last time the US Coast Guard came over, there were few things they complained about, and these things they complained about is what NPA and NIMASA are doing now to see them put in place. One of these issues is the human traffic at the port, initially, the ISPS Code implementation was left to the NPA alone, this was before concession, and back then we had wharf rats all over the place, but today there is no wharf rat anymore, it has become a thing of the past. So I believe we can still become better, it is a gradual process for us to get to compliance, one thing about change is that it takes place gradually.

Dayo Azeez (CEO, Manbilla Shipping Agency)
There is nothing stopping us from being ISPS compliant, we have all that it takes, it’s just the political will that is not there and I don't see why we should not have the political will to comply with ISPS code, it has been on for some years now and everybody have been sensitized, it’s just the lackadaisical attitude of the leadership of the maritime industry that is making us not to be ISPS compliant, otherwise I don't see any reason why we should not be. The leadership encompasses the shipping companies, terminal operators, the NPA and the NIMASA. My advice to NIMASA is to make sure they are on their toes and make sure that everybody complies.

Elder Asu Beks (CEO, Maritime Media Ltd)

Were we not compliant? I was around when the ISPS code was triggered off by the September 11 attack on the United States, the challenges are more with the US because of their attitude of wanting to be the police of the world. There is no country in the world that does not have security challenges, either in maritime or aviation, but between the NPA and NIMASA and the ministry of transport, they are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that we are on the same page, it may not be at the pace the US wanted, but if the US says goods coming from Nigeria should not enter the US, is it only Nigeria that will suffer for it? Will it not affect their market also?

Patrick Akpobolokemi (DG, NIMASA)
The 90-day ultimatum is not sacrosanct and we all have seen the bold steps taken so far in order for the ports to comply to ISPS code. It does not mean because the US gave us 90 days to do things right but the 90 days simply means start a process to assure the international community that we are alive to our responsibilities. We are gradually making progress because those that are compliant for now we are trying to encourage. I can assure you that there is nothing like sanction from anywhere.

Chris Sadoh (SMA)
The problem that we have at the moment goes beyond the ISPS code because if not for the sanction by the U.S Coast Guard nobody would have ever thought about security in our ports. But, I believe that the problem has to do with NIMASA because they are into safety and administration in the maritime sector. NPA is not visible in this, but NIMASA; therefore I must say that we should forget about the deadline, Nigeria is never ready to put security in place, so there is no hope for us.

Matthew Alalade (President, Merchant Navy)
From all indications I must say that NIMASA is doing everything possible to make sure that the ports are compliance to the ISPS code ,again the Americans had said that they want to partner Nigeria to address the issue of pirate in our domain and my opinion so far is that they can’t do without us because we are the big market as far international trade is concerned. They are only saying that we should put our ports in order.

Samson Agbai (stakeholder)
ISPS Code is not a myth, it is enforceable in all ports around the world, including Nigerian. It however requires knowing what to do and accepting the moral responsibility to do it. This knowledge is required at three levels viz port, ship and company; hence there are port facility security officers (PFSO) ship security officers (SSO) and company security officers (CSO). Knowing your duties in these positions and performing them with the supervision of the government designated authority and adhering to the reporting procedure to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) would suffice.