NIMASA Concessions ISPS Code Execution to Security Outfit

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has handed over the monitoring and coordination of its newly acquired responsibility; International Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) code function to a company; Havan Guard Security Limited

Captain Bala Agaba, NIMASA's executive director, Maritime Safety, disclosed this at a General Stakeholders Conference in Lagos recently.

Agaba also explained that the appointment of a lead Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) is paramount as the agency is currently making frantic efforts to meet up with the 90-days deadline that was given to Nigeria by the US Coast Guard on the compulsory compliance with the ISPS code.

He further noted that the lead RSO has been given 30 days to deliver an implementation mechanism, according to him, the company has already laid down a road map in pursuance of the task ahead.

According on him, NIMASA has constituted an in-house ISPS Code Implementation Committee with membership drawn from key government agencies with interest and activities in the maritime sector.

These includes the NPA, NNPC, Nigerian Navy, NSA, Nigerian Police, Ministry of Transport, SSS, Immigration, and Customs.

"In order to promptly and effectively undertake this task the agency has constituted an in-house ISPS Code Implementation Commttee (ICIC) to oversee the process of setting up a functional ISPS implementation regime"

"In addition, we have engaged the services of a lead Recognised Security Organisation (RSO) to help design and establish a comprehensive implementation programme," Agaba said.

He however called for an inter-agency collaboration in order to ensure a successful implementation of ISPS Code regime, stressing that need has occurred to build a data of all port facilities in Nigeria.

"We have commissioned the company to verify the exact number, identity, location and nature of all port facilities in the country, the data generated from this exercise will prove vital in building a data base for implementation" he said

Also speaking Mr. Terry Ajobena, project coordinator, Havan Guard, the Lead RSO, said that one of the first step that the company will embark upon is to register all port facilities operating in Nigeria.

"One of the things we need to do quickly, and this was stated in the diplomatic note from the US government, it is the fact that we have not been able to really establish how many port facilities we have in the country"

"And even when we do know these facilities, several of them have been operating under the radar, so it is essential for us as a designated authority to take stock of all the port facilities we have in the country" Ajobena said.