Vincent Toritseju
05 April 2018, Sweetcrude, Lagos — THE Lagos Maritime Security zone of the Port Facility Security Officers, PFSO, Forum has proposed a regional maritime security forum in the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS to tackling security from a common front.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Forum, its Chairman, Dr. Ignatius Uche said that since the region has a common maritime security challenge, the move to tackle such issue through a regional front will not be out of place.
Uche said that the Forum has communicated its plans to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, being the Designated Authority, DA, to implement the International Ship and Port Security, ISPS Code, a maritime convention by the International Maritime Organization, IMO.
“The PFSO Forum is evolving, we started with the Lagos Maritime Security zone of the PFSO and grew to have the National Maritime Security zone comprising of both the Lagos and Niger Delta maritime security zones which gave birth to the PFSO Forum of Nigeria.
“We now looked at how we can synergize with other countries in the sub-region with a view combating piracy and sea-robbery from a common security front since we have a common maritime security challenge.
“Moreso, this is in line with the objective of regional integration in the area of maritime security.”
He disclosed that members of the Forum are expected to buy into this initiative adding that NIMASA being the DA, is also expected to buy into the move and push it to the appropriate authorities as much as possible.
He disclosed that NIMASA has been intimated on the matter just as the Forum is also awaiting the approval of the proposal from the government.
Similarly, the representative of the DA, Mr. Lakopsam Dashel, an officer of the ISPS Unit in NIMASA told the gathering that the message will be passed to the management of NIMASA for all necessary action.
Dashel, however, commended the Forum for thinking out of the box to bring about a regional PFSO Forum.
