Terminal security officers strategise for safer ports, regions

Towards a stronger maritime and ports security across the nation, particularly within their domains, managers of ports facilities in Lagos and Niger Delta Maritime Security Zones have firmed up their alliance by inaugurating the Nigerian National Port Facility Security Officers (PFSO) Forum (NNPFSOF).

In his address, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside listed lack of adequate security infrastructure, poor maintenance of some port facility security infrastructure, and national security volatility occasioned by Niger Delta militancy and Boko Haram terrorism as part of challenges.

Peterside, who was represented at the occasion by the Director of Maritime Labour, Mrs. Biodun Gunwa, commended the efforts of the PFSO Forum for the achievements recorded so far by NIMASA, as applauded by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), in the implementation of the International Ships and Port Facilities Security (ISPS) Code.

Chairman of the Lagos Maritime Security Zone, who doubles as NNPFSOF chief, Mr. Anataku Subaru told The AUTHORITY that the alliance would help them identify critical security lapses and challenges in their maritime domain, share information and proffer solutions to present-day security threats, and encourage members to conform to the ISPS Code as domesticated by NIMASA, among others.

Though the body acknowledged that no nation has a 100 per cent compliance with the ISPS Code, which he described as a guideline to all nations under the IMO, Anataku said the body remains proactive to identify any possible security breach and put in place measures to mitigate the impact (if it does happen).

According to him, “the terminals are complying. The ISPS Code is not mandatory. In each country, you have DA, which makes the rules that every facility should follow.

“There is nowhere in the world you have absolute or 100 per cent compliance, not even in the United States or Israel. You still have the issues because human beings are involved and are dynamic. You don’t just think that you have overcome but certainly have to continue making arrangements to be proactive.

“The terminals cannot be 100 per cent compliant because of their peculiarities – some terminals are handling wet cargoes, others containers. There are certain cargoes that don’t need personnel handling while others do, so you should expect that the type of security in such areas would differ.

“You cannot say that this will not happen. Some intelligence could hint on them (security breach) happening, then you nip it in the bud.”