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General News

ISPS Code: NIMASA Bars Ships From Berthing Non-Compliant Terminals

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Patrick Ziakede Apkobolokemi, DG/CEO, NIMASA
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Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has indicated that it will no longer be business as usual for ports, terminals and jetties that have failed to comply with the of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code

According to a report by Ships and Ports Daily, this is NIMASA which doubles as the Designated Authority (DA) for the administration of ISPS Code in Nigeria, has perfected arrangement to withdraw all maritime services from facilities found to be operating without complying with the provisions of the code.

In a recently published marine notice signed by its management, the Ships and Ports reports noted, NIMASA said it has exhausted all intermediate measures to compel deficient port facilities to address all indentified areas of non-compliance with the ISPS Code without success.

The notice said the agency, in line with its mandate as the DA has commenced withdrawal of maritime services from such ports, terminals and jetties.

“The withdrawal of maritime services, which implies the stoppage of ship calls at such facilities, shall remain in place until the DA is satisfied that the minimum requirements for compliance with the ISPS Code have been met in the facilities,” NIMASA stated in the notice.

The US Coast Guard recently imposed condition of entry which subjects ships that visit US from the affected port facilities in Nigeria to serious security checks before allowing or disallowing such ship into the US ports.

According to the diplomatic note from the US embassy in Nigeria, some Nigerian port facilities lacked effective anti-terrorism measures in place and the sanction deals on ships that leave Nigeria to the US from all non-compliant port facilities.

Currently only about 22 port facilities in Nigeria have been certified to be 100 percent complaint with ISPS Code by NIMASA while over 58 oil jetties and other port facilities were listed as non-compliant facilities.

ISPS Code is a comprehensive set of measures developed in response to the perceived threats to ships and port facilities in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. The code is implemented alongside the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974. It has two parts – one mandatory and one recommendatory.

The purpose of the code is to provide a standardised, consistent framework for evaluating risk, enabling governments to offset changes in threat with changes in vulnerability for ships and port facilities through determination of appropriate security levels and corresponding security measures, Ships and Ports reported.

 


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General News

African Parliamentarians Seek Answers from Telcos on Quality of Service

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African legislators across the continent are increasingly demanding answers from mobile network operators for chronic poor service. Parliamentarians in Cameroon, South Africa and Zambia are demanding answers on data pricing, network connectivity needs in rural regions, contributions to job creation, data security and privacy, and adherence to universal service obligations.

Zambia is the latest country to question telcos over quality of service, and National Assembly speaker Nelly Mutti has ordered minister of technology and science Felix Mutati to deliver a ministerial statement on the Airtel network’s repeat outages and the steps being taken to resolve them.

Lawmakers have expressed concerns about the impact of inconsistent connectivity, particularly in rural areas where mobile communication is important for emergencies and essential services.

This come after telecoms regulator, Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) read the riot act to Airtel, after its most recent outage last week.

This was not the first time the telco had experienced service interruption, which prompted ZICTA to threaten the telco with a fine.

Meanwhile, the speaker of parliament declared that the nation has to be informed about the causes for the network provider’s bad service and the steps being taken to address the issue.

Mutti said: “This matter is affecting everyone. We need to know why the services are poor and what is being done to ensure service providers comply with stipulated guidelines.”

The move by the Zambian parliament comes a few days after South African parliament also summoned mobile network operators to respond to a range of concerns that lawmakers felt impacted consumers.

The following issues were considered by parliamentarians: network connectivity standards in rural areas, contributions to job creation, transformation, and economic inclusion and empowerment for blacks in general, women, youth, and people with disabilities, data security and privacy, adherence to universal service obligations, and spectrum conditions for universal connectivity.

 


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TD Africa, HP Strengthen Partnership to Advance Africa’s Tech Ecosystem

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TD Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa’s foremost technology distributor, took a bold step toward strengthening almost three decades of collaboration by hosting a high-level strategic meeting with HP Inc. at an exclusive gathering in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The meeting brought together top executives from both organisations to reaffirm their commitment to advancing digital transformation and deepening technology penetration across Nigeria and Africa.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Group (parent company of TD Africa), traced the long-standing partnership between HP and TD Africa and emphasised the need for a more intentional synergy going forward.

“The relationship between TD Africa and HP goes beyond business; it’s a shared vision to use technology as the catalyst for a smarter, more prosperous Nigeria. Technology is the new oil, and together, we must build the infrastructure to power a 21st-century Africa,” said Dr. Ekeh.

Also, Mrs. Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director of TD Africa, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to digital inclusion and local empowerment. “At TD Africa, we are passionate about pushing technology to every part of the country and the continent. Our vision is to see an Africa where every individual, business, and institution is IT-ready and globally competitive,” she stated.

On behalf of HP, Kingsley Osuala, Distribution Business Manager, Central Africa, expressed appreciation for the enduring relationship with TD Africa and stressed the importance of local tech adoption.

“We are grateful to TD Africa for staying true to their mission of empowering Africa through technology. As the digital age accelerates, Nigerians must stay ahead by embracing innovation and high-performance tech solutions. That is how we stay globally relevant,” Osuala remarked.

The meeting concluded with renewed resolve from both parties to explore deeper collaboration and build on their shared legacy, one that prioritizes access, innovation, and the digital empowerment of Africa.


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Court Orders Lawyer to Produce “Bail-Jumping” Client in MTN Cyber Fraud Case

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Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Mr Nnamdi Kalu, a legal practitioner, to appear before the court on July 9, 2025, to provide explanations regarding the whereabouts of Richard Ironbar Edemadem, his client,  who is accused of cyber-related fraud and has allegedly jumped bail.

Court Orders Lawyer to Produce “Bail-Jumping” Client in MTN Cyber Fraud Case

The judge issued the directive during the ongoing trial of Edemadem and four others, namely: Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, and ISD Technology Limited, who are standing trial on charges of tampering with the critical mobile telecommunications infrastructure of MTN Nigeria and illegally profiting from unsolicited messages sent to subscribers.

The prosecution, led by Mr Nnemeka Omewa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that Edemadem, the first defendant, had jumped bail and ceased communication with both his counsel and the court.

He further revealed that Mr Kalu, who represented the defendant at the early stage of the trial, had stopped appearing in court and was unreachable.

During the trial proceedings, Justice Alagoa queried the continued absence of the first defendant, especially as his name had come up repeatedly during the testimony of the EFCC’s witness.

Upon receiving the explanation from the prosecutor, the judge expressed concern that no attempt had been made to bring the sureties to account, as required when a defendant absconds.

Responding to the judge’s query, Omewa said the prosecution had made efforts to trace the sureties and review the bail bond documents.

However, they discovered that no valid documentation about the sureties or their contact addresses could be found in the court file.

Disturbed by the absence of such critical records, Justice Alagoa directed the absentee defendant’s counsel, Mr Kalu, to appear before the court on the next adjourned date to provide clarity on his client’s disappearance and explain his failure to participate further in the trial.

In the meantime, the trial resumed with the testimony of Mr Olamide Sadiq, the fourth prosecution witness and an investigating officer with the EFCC.

Sadiq detailed how the defendants fraudulently manipulated MTN’s telecom systems to send unsolicited messages to thousands of unsuspecting subscribers.

According to his testimony, the defendants, who were employed as IT professionals for various telecom value-added service providers, compromised MTN’s Critical Mobile Telecommunications Network System between 2017 and 2018, adding that by exploiting the system’s vulnerabilities, they deployed mass unsolicited messages that led to unauthorised deductions from subscribers’ airtime balances.

Sadiq explained that these illegal deductions were routed into multiple accounts linked to the defendants and their affiliated entities, notably ISD Technology Limited.

The stolen proceeds, totalling N36,837,438.20, were subsequently distributed among the conspirators, he said.

Following the witness’s testimony, the court adjourned the matter to July 9, 2025, for the continuation of the trial and to enable Mr Kalu to appear and address the court on the issue of his absconding client.

The EFCC had filed a three-count charge against the defendants, detailing their alleged roles in the multimillion-naira fraud.

On count one of the charges, the defendants, Richard Ironbar Edemadem, Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, ISD Technology Limited, and a fugitive known only as “Sola”, were accused of conspiring to tamper with a critical mobile telecommunications network system.

This, the EFCC said, is contrary to Sections 27(6)(b) and 10 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same law.

The second charge stated that the defendants were charged with unauthorised tampering with MTN’s network infrastructure, an offence also contrary to Section 10 of the Cybercrimes Act, punishable under the same provision.

Counts three of the charges posited that the defendants allegedly took possession of N36,837,438.20, which they reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of an unlawful act, namely, stealing, contrary to Sections 15(2)(d) and (6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and punishable under the same.

 

Source: Tribune

 


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