Poor port security seen as threat to Nigeria’s oil export trade

Thirteen days to the expiration of the three months deadline given to Nigeria by the United States (US) Coast Guard to comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code or face sanction, maritime experts have said Nigeria is likely to face huge economic loss if it fails to improve on port security.

The economic loss, according to them, will result from ban on US-bound vessels from Nigeria calling any port in US, which will spell doom to not only Nigeria-US trade generally but to the nation’s oil export to US.

Findings show that Nigeria produces about 2 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), out which over 361,000 barrels are exported to the United States, and if the nation’s ports fail to comply with the international security standards, this chunk of business will be under threat.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos recently, Charles Uwadia, president, Association of (Nigeria) Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES), expressed worry on the vulnerability of Nigerian ports to terrorist attacks and urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to accept the assistance of US Coast Guard and partner with them to facilitate Nigeria’s attainment of ISPS Code full compliance.

According to him, Nigeria should also utilise the opportunity provided by the observations of the UN Coast Guards as a turning point to putting in place the roadmap of establishing a sustainable anti-terrorist measure.

He said that NIMASA, which is now the designated authority, should embark on accelerated national reform that will not only demonstrate its authority, but also provide foundation for sustainable administration. “AMES believes that a well-fashioned process from the evolving changes occasioned by the US Coast Guard intervention will assist in the reform,” he said.

The AMES president further said the reform should sponsor national laws and appropriate regulations that will capture the essence of unlawful acts against maritime navigation, ISPS Code and relevant international instruments; make rules for anti-terrorist measures; identify offences and sanctions; and develop a national anti-terrorist implementation and enforcement plan based on the newly developed rules and regulations.

“Reference should be made to the relevant actions of the world bodies, including International Maritime Organisation (IMO), particularly the adopted Djibouti Code of Conduct for the repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. This will prepare the executing agencies for appropriate action and demonstrate the political will and seriousness attached to the precarious situation by the Nigerian government to meet its obligations for effective prevention,” he said.

The owners of port facilities and ships, he added, must ensure their facilities comply with the requirements of the code under the watchful eyes of NIMASA. Non-compliance is tantamount to inadequate measures for anti-terrorist attack which is considered a potential threat to international shipping, the basis of United States’ reaction. Highlighting the vulnerability of Nigerian ports, Olu Akinsoji, a member of the association, noted that the location of hotels, private houses and jetties as well as Ogogolo village very close to the water poses huge threat to water channel as residents of these areas are allowed to move along the Lagos water channel without standard security checks.

Situations like this, he said, can constitute navigational hazards to vessels coming into the ports. He therefore called on ISPS Code designated authority to install 24-hour lighting equipment to ensure constant illumination and closed circuit television (CCTV) to monitor activities on the waterway.

Patrick Akpobolokemi, director general of NIMASA, assured that the agency will vigorously pursue ISPS Code implementation by raising the security standards of all port facilities in the country and ships that bear Nigerian flag.

The NIMASA boss, who confirmed that the risk of non-compliance with ISPS Code is frightening given the threats Nigeria faces due to the growing menace of global terrorism and other maritime crimes, also assured that the agency will work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigerian waterways and port facilities are safe for shipping business to thrive.

Abiodun Omotesho, a master marina who expressed belief that Nigeria will meet the US Coast Guard deadline, said the nation’s maritime sector raised the bar in the implementation of the ISPS Code immediately after the concessioning of the ports to private operators. This, he said, helped to remove the operation of miscreants popularly called Wharf Rats, who turned the ports to a residential place.

“Since the takeover of the ports by the private investors, the ports environment has become more secured as the terminal operators have put in place measures that restrict people from entering the ports indiscriminately,” he said.

By: Uzoamaka Anagor