Following the 90 days ultimatum that was handed down by the United States of America Coast Guard to Nigeria on the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code, President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed worry and called for immediate commencement of implementation.
Based on the foregoing, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi has vowed to vigorously pursue the implementation of the ISPS code in Nigeria.
Following the 90 days ultimatum that was handed down by the United States of America Coast Guard to Nigeria on the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code, President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed worry and called for immediate commencement of implementation.
Based on the foregoing, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi has vowed to vigorously pursue the implementation of the ISPS code in Nigeria.
The agency has equally disclosed that it is going to erect a Nigerian flag and IMO flag to differentiate ports, jetties and terminals that have complied with ISPS code in Nigeria, while a black flag will be flying at the non-compliant terminals.
At a General Stakeholders Conference held by NIMASA in Lagos yesterday, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on maritime affairs, Mr. Leke Oyewole disclosed that the president is greatly disturbed by the 90-day ultimatum given by the USA out of which six weeks are already gone, and that the presidency will not allow the big stick to fall on Nigeria.
He disclosed that the US has directed that henceforth, a ship that goes to a non-compliant port will not be allowed to enter into American ports. The implication of this is that fewer ships will be willing to come to Nigeria and the freight cost to Nigeria will become very unbearable.
"We have just 45 days left, I want to tell the NIMASA DG and the management that this is a mission that must be accomplished, I am speaking on behalf of the President, to the NPA, we want to limit the human interface in port operations, we want to reduce the number of people that are present in our port", the special adviser stated.
He directed that there must be an immediate automation of the port gates and that entry should not be granted based on facial recognition and considerations. He also called for the integration of data among security organisation in order to ensure seamless flow of information.
Oyewole disclosed that the inefficiency of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Security (PICOMMS) had led to its being dissolved and the responsibility of ISPS implementation was recently transferred to NIMASA.
Speaking earlier, Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi stated that the agency has already set up a committee to facilitate the smooth implementation of its mandate on the ISPS code.
The NIMASA DG assured that the agency will vigorously pursue ISPS Code implementation by raising the security standards of all port facilities in Nigeria and ships that bear Nigerian flag.
Speaking further, he stated that: " Our insistence on better standards and other improved security measures may in the short term impose some level of financial burden on port facility operators and other stakeholders, but the measures we shall be prescribing will in no doubt augur well for you and the Nigeria’s maritime industry in the long run".
Soliciting for support from stakeholders, Akpobolokemi stated that the effective implementation of the ISPS Code by NIMASA requires the cooperation of key government stakeholders at the highest level.
"I am greatly delighted to acknowledge that we have the cooperation and support of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. These principal government stakeholders are represented on the ISPS Code Implementation Committee that NIMASA has set up to facilitate the smooth implementation of our mandate"
"It is of the greatest expedience that we collectively see to it that this mandate is given the highest attention and priority by all government and private organizations here represented. We must not forget that our maritime domain hosts much of our country’s critical national assets, resources and infrastructure."
The conference had in attendance: the National Security Adviser (NSA) represented by the Director of External Security, Mr. Uwei Nsangidigi, the Chief of Naval Staff represented by Rear Admiral O.S Ogunjimi, the Managing Director NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi represented by Mr. S. O Asamaige, NNPC General Manager Security, Mr. Fred Owoturufa and chairman of Indigenous Ship owners Association (ISAN) Chief Isaac Jolapamo.
All stakeholders present equally pledged total support and corporation with NIMASA on the implementation of the code.
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