Nigeria, US To Build Capacity On Maritime Security

As part of efforts to attain global best practices in shipping among Nigerian operators, the United States Consulate, Lagos and the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), are set to begin partnership for capacity building.

Both organisations explored several areas of collaboration when the Maritime Advisor to the United States Consulate, Lagos, Lieutenant Commander Patrick Moon led a delegation to the NCS headquarters in Lagos, yesterday.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the meeting, the President of NCS, Mr. Aminu Umar stated that both organisations flagged maritime security as the major area of interest because it affects all shipping stakeholders, especially the nations within the Gulf of Guinea (GOG).

His words, “The meeting was primarily to meet the Maritime Advisor to the US Consulate General, Lieut. Commander Patrick Moon and the Economic Adviser, Ms. Jordan LaChance. We were able to discuss and have an engagement on how we can collaborate in terms of advocacy and policies that we could improve.”

“We also looked at areas for capacity development and capacity building.

The United States of America is the biggest country in the world in terms of shipping and they assist the rest of the world in manpower development for shipping. In Africa, the US has played a crucial role in ensuring that maritime security is improved, especially within the GOG region.”

According to the NCS President, although the security situation in the Nigerian maritime sector has improved in the last few years when compared to 10-15 years ago, there is need for continuous improvement and deployment of new technology.

“The introduction of new technologies to maritime security creates a higher level of efficiency and we are looking at the U.S as a strategic partner that is already utilising these technologies and advanced security systems. We hope that they could partner with the Nigerian operators and security agencies to improve the security situation in the maritime domain,” he added.

On his part, the Maritime Advisor, U.S Consulate Lagos, Lt. Commander Patrick Moon observed that the Nigerian maritime industry is actively involved in ensuring safe and secure shipping in an international business that affects people around the world.

Moon, who is also an officer of the U.S Coast Guards, stressed that safe and secure shipping is something that is important to the U.S Coast Guards and the U.S Mission.

“One of the reasons the U.S Coast Guard was asked to come to Nigeria is to provide that connection and greater understanding between the maritime industry and regulators in Nigeria with the U.S. Mission,” he said.

Speaking on the relationship between U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy, Moon stated that; “the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy are sister services with a long history of cooperation. The U.S Coast Guard is distinct in that it is a military service that also performs regulatory functions, such as search and rescue coordination, commercial vessel inspections, and waterways management.”

While Moon was accompanied by the Economic Adviser to the U.S Consulate, Ms. Jordan LaChance and Ms. Ngozi Nkwoh; the meeting was also attended by NCS Governing Council members; Mrs. Jean-Chiazor Anishere (SAN) and Ms. Ifeoma Nwagbogu; and the Director General of NCS, Mrs. Vivian Chimezie-Azubuike.