Vincent Toritseju
17 August 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — THE Economic Communities of West African States, ECOWAS recently carried an assessment on port facilities in Nigeria to ascertain the country’s level of compliance with the International Ship and Port Security, ISPS Code.
Confirming the development at the just concluded monthly meeting of the Lagos Maritime Security Zone of the Port Facility Security Officers, PFSO, Forum, Secretary of the Forum, Mr. Ignatius Uche said that ECOWAS had sent a consultant to carry out the assessment of facilities across the region.
Uche also disclosed that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA were represented at the assessment exercise, adding that the consultant spent more time in Nigeria because Nigeria is the biggest in the region.
Although this reporter could not confirm the numbers of facilities that were visited by the team, it was gathered that the team visited the Integrated Oil and Gas Company in Ibafon, Apapa.
Uche also disclosed that the team will go to other countries in the region for the same purpose of ensuring international best practices.
Similarly, a representative of the Designated Authority from the office of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Mr. Adebayo Olatoke called for a review of the Port Assessment Plan, PAP, and Port Facility Security Plan, PFSP, so as to ensure such plans are in line with international best practices.
Olatoke also disclosed that NIMASA has ordered for some security intervention boats which will arrive the country as soon as the agency concludes plans to take delivery of the boats.
It was further gathered that a two-page questionnaire containing about 30 questions sighted by our correspondent was distributed to the various facilities.
Some of the questions contained in the questionnaire were, “what are the greatest security challenges in your facility, do you have an approved PFSP for your facility, do you have restricted areas, what do you do if you move from security one to security level two.
Other questions are “how do you admit visitors into your facility, do you have an alarm system, who and who participates in your drills, do your ID Card have an expiration date, and how secured is your berthing areas.
