NPA, NIMASA partner on security, safety measures

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The need to boost maritime safety, grow economy and creat jobs has  necessitated need for collaboration between the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and its sister agency, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

In a meeting in Lagos between the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman,and the NIMASA Director-General Dr. Bashir Jamoh, they agreed to do all within their powers to reduce the cost of shipping goods into the country.

The maritime agencies will therefore interlink their command structures, NPA’s Ci3 and NIMASA’s Ci4, for shared information that will help the Naval security platform, Falcon eye,  provide security on Nigeria’ waters.

Arrangements have been concluded by the Federal Government for the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, also called the Deep Blue Project, to be the central security structure for all anchorage areas in the Nigerian maritime domain.

The nuisance being created in the Nigerian waterways by wrecks and derelicts will be addressed, according to the Deputy Director Public Relations, NPA, Philip Kyanet, the agencies have resolved to remove them.

As part of the collaboration, arrangements are in top gear to berth the NIMASA floating Dockyard permanently in order for it to commence operations in July which will be a boast to the nation’s economy.

Hadiza said, “We had a range of discussions bordering on the Secure Anchorage Area which our supervising Ministry desires the  Deep Blue Project to provide security for all anchorage areas in the country.

”Aside saving the country a lot of money, it will ensure that the security of the Nigerian Maritime domain is given focal attention”.

She harped on the need for information connectivity to assist the Nigerian Navy’s response to security.

NIMASA monitoring vessels on air

“We have the C3i Command, Control and Intelligence center at NPA, and  NIMASA has the c4i, while the Navy has falcon eye. We need to interlink these facilities and we believe that this would assist the country in response to maritime security threats,” she said.

Dr. Bashir Jamoh also reiterated the need to harmonize most of the working models amongst all maritime agencies to avoid duplication of duties which also leads to more costs.

He stated that the Secure Anchorage Area which has been a subject of debate amongst stakeholders would now be covered under the multi-spectrum security architecture popularly known as the Deep Blue Project.

“There is absolutely no need for us to have private security in our maritime space. You are aware that this increases the cost of shipping in our country. By the time the Deep Blue Project becomes fully operational, the cost of shipping would drastically reduce,” he said.

NIMASA floating dockyard

Jamoh said agreement has been reached with NPA to get a permanent berth for the floating Dockyard at which he emphasized that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the floating Dockyard should be operational by the end of July. A facility he said will employ hundreds of Nigerians directly and also earn huge revenue.
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“We are finalizing arrangements with the NPA to get a permanent berth for the floating Dockyard and by the end of July, this facility should be operational. The interesting thing is that aside earning a huge amount of revenue, it also has the capacity to employ over 300 Nigerian youths directly,”

The meeting according  to stakeholders wiĺl go a long way to boosting security, economy and above all creating job especially as nations of the world move into post COVID-19 era with its attendant economic, social and health realities.