The European Union (EU), has commended the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Marítime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), over the security architecture put in place at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 1st West and Central African Port Security (WeCAPS), training mission in Nigeria, the team lead, Nico Vertogen, also called for stricter security architecture using Close Circuit Television (CCTV), access badges, perimeter fencing among others.
According to him, strengthening security and safety of West and Central African ports cannot be overemphasized, saying it will help reduce vulnerabilities, risks and increase skills and vigilance.
He said, “there is huge improvement in Nigeria port security architecture and that was very reassuring for us to notice. But, there can always be improvement, do more training but in general, the situation is good.”
Vertogen further disclosed that WeCAPS project was a partner project to give opinion on safety and security accompanied by training.
“WeCAPS is not an approach of giving yellow cards or red cards, but it is an approach of working together among colleagues and experts. WeCAPS project is a partner project that came with expertise and giving out opinion on safety and security and that’s accompanied by training. WeCAPS is not an approach of giving yellow card or red card but an approach of working together and among experts.”
“It was a very detailed needs assessment results because we need to understand how security and safety is organised in Tin- Can island and Apapa and that constitute a detailed training program that was tailor made especially for security where we have international certification,” he said.
However, the Managing Director of NPA, Mohammed Bello-Koko, commended the European Union for the WeCAPS training mission.
According to Bello-Koko, the program will help strengthen the security and safety of ports in the West and Central African region.
He said the training mission in Nigeria came at a time when the authority was prioritising safety and security to achieve a hub status within the region.
“This commitment is in line with the authority’s vision to be the maritime logistics hub for sustainable port services in Africa, which also prioritises delivery of efficient port services in a safe, secure and customer-friendly environment,” he said.
“I would also like to express my appreciation to the entire WeCAPS Project team, the Safety Experts, as well as the Security Experts in persons of Mr. Christophe Van Maele and Herve Basset for their time, efforts and contributions towards enhancing the capacity of our personnel in the area of port security, safety and operations.”
Speaking earlier, the General Manager, Security, NPA, Mohammed Khalil, informed that the mission was sponsored by the European Union (EU) and driven by Expertise France (EF) with the collaboration of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
He stated that the successful conduct of the training demonstrated the resolve and commitment of the authority to partner and collaborate with international organisations such as EF, Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) USA, to address identified gaps and vulnerabilities in the ports.
He further disclosed that the main objective of the training was to enhance the country’s operational efficiency and as well optimise performance in its service delivery.
According to him, the training was built around a detailed assessment report of ports in the Lagos Maritime Security Zone particularly in the areas of port security, safety and fire service.
“As an integral part of the global maritime logistics and supply chain, the portrait file safety and security of the ports are of paramount importance to the well-being of the global economy.”
“Interestingly, and looking at the entire gamut of our maritime and port security, credit must be given to the NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy (NN) for ensuring a safe and better secured maritime domain through the implementation of its Deep Blue Project which has drastically stemmed the tide of maritime criminality in our waters.
“This success is in addition to other giant strides recorded through the enactment of a policy framework such as the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP), on arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and persons in Nigeria’s maritime environment,” he said
He noted that in all of the training by WeCAPS, more than 150 officers and staff have been trained and have acquired sufficient professional knowledge and skills in various areas of needs and competencies which cut across Security, Fire, Safety, Environment, Operations, Harbours, Legal, Training and Public Private Partnership.
The head, ISPS unit of NIMASA, Issa Mudi, commended the WeCAPS for its immense commitment to port safety and security not just within the European Union region, but within the shores of Nigeria.
He said the workshop was among a series of engagements under the technical assistance program offered by WeCAPS and WMU.
“No one here doubts the fundamental role the maritime industry plays in boosting global trade and economic prosperity. We are also aware that effective collaboration is critical in dealing with issues of security, otherwise we will not all be gathered here.
“The maritime industry is such a closely knit community that security threats can migrate from a vulnerable port in one country to a seemingly less vulnerable one in another country using ships as a ‘conduit’ for this migration.
“Therefore, while we continue to maintain constructive collaborative efforts, the onus is on each nation to properly secure its maritime domain.
“As an agency, NIMASA is saddled with key responsibilities to ensure maritime security in Nigeria’s maritime domain. This is why maritime security is the cornerstone of the “Triple S” strategy of Maritime Security, Safety and Shipping Development initiated by the current Executive Management upon assuming office in March 2020.
“This has led to our execution of several initiatives, in partnership with other relevant government bodies such the Nigerian Navy, Airforce, Police, Army, the DSS, and several other state and non-state actors and stakeholders having security responsibilities.
“As a result, we are currently experiencing successes in ensuring maritime security within the nation’s maritime domain and the Gulf of Guinea (GOG) as a whole. Specifically, the GoG region is experiencing an unprecedented decline in piracy incidents which it has not experienced for the past three decades. A feat which has been attested to by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB),” he stated.
