NIMASA harps on security of ports environment

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has stressed the need for proper planning and implementation to ensure adequate security at the nation’s ports.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, at the closing ceremony of a five-day training programme in Lagos, said good security maritime industry required careful planning and stringent implementation.

Peterside, however, assured that the Agency is committed to improving the fortunes of Nigeria by creating an enabling environment for a business friendly and secured environment for stakeholders, hence the need for the train-the-trainer initiative.

The NIMASA boss, who acknowledged the International Co-operation Unit of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), disclosed that the training was predicated on the premise that a fact-finding team was in Nigeria earlier in the year to conduct an assessment where a number of gaps were identified.

This according to him necessitated the training, with a view to addressing some of the gaps identified.

“I guess that in the course of this exercise, we have learnt that good security requires planning and stringent implementation. I know that in the course of this training, the seed of cooperation and collaboration between NIMASA as Designated Authority (DA) for ISPS Code Implementation in Nigeria, our sister government agencies such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and the Federal Ministry of Transportation, has been planted.

“My expectation and desire of the leadership of these agencies is that it will grow and blossom. A tripartite series of planned training programmes is expected to culminate with the lead auditors training, which will place you the drivers of the system at the cutting edge of professionalism in ISPS code implementation,” he said.

Peterside urged the participants to bring to bear the knowledge acquired during the five days training programme, noting that this will enhance the security at the nation’s ports.