NPA Pledges Support To U.S. Initiative Against Terrorism In Maritime Environment

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has pledged its support to the initiative of the U.S. to tackle terrorism in the global maritime environment.
Malam Habib Abdullahi, the Managing Director of NPA, made the pledge while receiving two officials of the U.S. Consulate-General in Lagos; Mr Rolf Olson and Mr Ronald Rhinehart at the organisation’s corporate head office last week.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has pledged its support to the initiative of the U.S. to tackle terrorism in the global maritime environment.
Malam Habib Abdullahi, the Managing Director of NPA, made the pledge while receiving two officials of the U.S. Consulate-General in Lagos; Mr Rolf Olson and Mr Ronald Rhinehart at the organisation’s corporate head office last week.
The NPA in a statement issued in Lagos and signed by its general manager public affairs; Capt Iheanacho Ebubeogu on Friday quoted the NPA boss as saying that the U.S. initiated the move to ensure safety in the global maritime activities.
He said that it was in the best interest of the authority to support the initiative.
But the NPA boss stated that the nation’s seaports are complying with all international regulations on port security. “All the nation’s seaports are improving on the requirements of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code as it concerns the responsibility of the ports.“Even in the present concession regime, the management of NPA still oversees the security of the ports in conjunction with other sister organisations,” he said.
The NPA boss who reiterated the determination of the agency to improve the outlook and the performance of its security division explained that this has become necessary to enable the division cope with the increasing security challenges.
 
He said that the programmes were designed to improve the performance of the division.
“The programmes include personnel recruitment, training and acquisition of necessary working tools and equipment.
“The existing security personnel at the ports are trained, retrained and re-oriented,” he said.
Earlier, Olson had told the director that the U.S. was concerned with Nigeria’s determination to effectively tackle terrorism in its maritime environment.
 
Mr. Olson who said the American Embassy has made its observation known to the Foreign affairs Ministry through diplomatic note emphasised the need for the nation’s seaports to be seen to be save.
 
He reiterated the need for the two countries to work closely together to make the global maritime activities save.