Even as the ultimatum given to Nigeria by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on the need for implementation of the International Ships and Ports facility Security (ISPS) code in Nigeria expires, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed indications that it is making reasonable progress with the implementation of the code.
Even as the ultimatum given to Nigeria by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) on the need for implementation of the International Ships and Ports facility Security (ISPS) code in Nigeria expires, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed indications that it is making reasonable progress with the implementation of the code.
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi gave the indication at a press briefing in Lagos yesterday and said that the agency had commissioned a stock-taking of the nation's coastal maritime assets and that many of them were now compliant.
He said that a Verification Inspection Exercise (VIE) was recently conducted on these facilities and further assured that the result of this exercise would form the basis for further re-certification of port and jetty facilities.
Even though existing certificates carried by the facilities are valid until August 31st 2013; the NIMASA DG has however said that new certificates will be issued as from 1st of September 2013 in line with ISPS code requirements.
He also assured that NIMASA's action plans had already been given a positive nod by the US Coast Guard and that it had pledged to support NIMASA in ensuring that the issues raised were addressed.
Speaking further, the DG said that the agency had outlined its implementation framework in the form of a handbook to enable the public understand its agenda with respect to the new implementation regime.
"A critical success factor to the implementation programme will be the capacity and the will to enforce this implementation mandate by a regime of incentives and sanctions", he stated.
"In the past, compliance was a huge issue as the previous Designated Authority (DA) lacked capacity to strictly enforce its mandate haven lacked constitutional powers to do so"
Akpobolokemi took a quick swipe at the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety and Security (PICOMMS) for haven, according to him, derailed from its core objectives, even as he assured that financial muscles to implement ISPS code will not be a challenge for NIMASA.
Assisting the DG, the NIMASA Executive Director in charge of Maritime Safety, Capt. Ezekiel Agaba noted that the agency has made progress on implementation; even as he pointed out that it is not possible to cover all port facilities within three months.
He expressed NIMASA's readiness for the return leg of the visit of the US Coast Guard to Nigeria by this weekend.
"We know that they are coming back sometimes this week, they are going to come back before the end of this month and we are waiting for them" he said.
The maritime regulatory agency has also assured stakeholders that the 90 days ultimatum is not sacrosanct and that security personnel operating at the seaports are ignorant of the code.
Akpobolokemi said that one of the problems that had plagued port facilities, jetties and terminals has been lack of understanding of the ISPS code, its relevance and the application.
He stressed that, "this was roundly captured in the US diplomatic note as security personnel were found to be ignorant of the code”
"To address this, policies and measures are being put in place to ensure that more training and capacity building among not just security personnel, but all personnel in the maritime sector as everybody has a role to play in the ISPS theatre." he said.
He added that security companies that provide guard force personnel to companies operating in its domain will henceforth be required to provide ISPS protocol.
Akpobolokemi also added that the responsibility of the DA is to set or change the security levels for port facility in its domain, adding that the DA will continue to work closely with the office of the National Security Adviser and other security agencies in determining security levels, based on the evaluation of risks in the various maritime security zones.
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