- Trains 150 safety, security personnel
By Anthony Nwachukwu
The European Union (EU) has urged the governments of the West and Central African regions to improve access control at their seaports to enhance safety and security as meets the standard of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code.
Speaking Thursday in Lagos during the closing ceremony of the Western and Central Africa Port Security (WeCAPS) 1st Mission Training, the EU listed the assessed needs for the Apapa and Tin Can ports, as well as others, to include perimeter fencing or reinforcement, installation of CCTV cameras and access badges.
WeCAPS Team Lead, Mr. Nico Vertongen, said these would reduce safety and security vulnerabilities and risks, while increasing skills and vigilance.
According to him, WeCAPS “is not an approach of giving yellow cards or red cards, but an approach of working together among colleagues and experts,” who give opinions.
In his address, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr. Mohammed Hello Koko, commended the EU for the WeCAPS training mission, stating that it came to Nigeria when the authority was prioritising safety and security to achieve a hub status within the region.
Bello, who was represented by the NPA General Manager, Security, Mohammed Khalil, stated that “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.”
Earlier, Khalil disclosed that in all, the WeCAPS project has given over 150 officers and staff sufficient professional knowledge and skills in various areas of needs and competencies across security, fire, safety, environment, operations, harbours, legal, training and public private partnership.
He explained that the mission, which started in August 2022, was sponsored by the EU and driven by Expertise France (EF), with the collaboration of the NPA and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
According to him, the successful conduct of the training demonstrates NPA’s resolve and commitment to partnering international organisations to address identified gaps and vulnerabilities in the ports, with a view to enhancing operational efficiency and optimising performance.
To that end, the training entailed a detailed assessment report of ports in the Lagos Maritime Security Zone (LMSZ), conducted with the WeCAPS team of experts and aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s human capital in various areas of port operations, particularly port security, safety and fire service.
“As an integral part of the global maritime logistics and supply chain, the portrait, safety and security of the ports are of paramount importance to the well-being of the global economy,” he stated.
He added that the success of NIMASA and the Nigerian Navy (NN) in ensuring a safe and better secured maritime domain through the Deep Blue Project added to other giant strides through such policy framework as the Harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (HSOP) on arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and persons in Nigeria’s maritime environment.
On his part, the NIMASA Head of ISPS Unit, Mr. Mudi Isa, commended WeCAPS for its immense commitment to port safety and security within the Nigerian shores, stating that the workshop was among a series of engagements under the WeCAPS and WMU technical assistance programme.
“No one here doubts the fundamental role the maritime industry plays in boosting global trade and economic prosperity,” Mudi said. “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.”
