Centralize Security Agencies under ISPS Code- AMES

Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) has urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to update information on its recent gains in ensuring safety of navigation in the Nigerian waters and disseminate same to the international shipping community and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

This is coming days to the expiration of the 90 days ultimatum given to Nigeria by the United States Coast Guard to close observed gaps in Nigeria’s implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Charles  Uwadia, President of AMES said that though some of the private terminals in the Nigeria ports are ISPS Code compliant, the common user facilities under the authority of Nigerian Ports Authority and the villages and residential places around the ports make the ports vulnerable to attack because unknown persons can access the ports through those unapproved routes.

He confirmed that NIMASA has recently made some gains in safety of navigation on Nigerian waters, saying there is need for that to be documented as the situation has improved far better than what it was about two months ago, he said. He however said that the multiplicity of security agencies at the ports make compliance confusing, calling on government to collapsed the numerous security agencies to one so that ship-owners will know who to deal with.

Uwadia noted that the splitting of the ports into several private terminals also contribute to making implementation of the ISPS Code cumbersome.

He commended the federal government for appointing NIMASA as the designated authority for the implementation of the code, in line with the agency’s statutory mandate.    
                                
“Now that the right thing has been done by appointing NIMASA as the designated authority for the implementation of the ISPS Code in the country, it should embark on an accelarated National reform that will not only demonstrate its authority but provides foundation for sustainable administration,” he said.                                        

He called on the National Assembly to ensure early passage of a national law to give the International Convention on Unlawful Acts Against Maritime Navigation (SUA) an obligatory effect.

He said: “It is more worrisome that since the adoption of the International Convention on Unlawful Acts against Marine Navigation (SUA) in 1988, Nigeria has not concluded the process for the passage national laws to give the provision the obligatory effect.” Saying going forward, NIMASA should take full responsibility and opportunity given by the US government to discuss without reservation with the International Port Security Liaison Officer who also double as the Commander of the US Coast Guard, David Gates who has offered to assist Nigeria.