Yemisi Izuora
The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has assured the United States Coast Guard (USCG) of it determination to ensure total compliance with the International Ships and Ports Facility (ISPS) Code in all ports, terminals and jetties in Nigeria, for the security of the nation’s territorial ways.
PeterSide who made this known to a delegation of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) led by Commander Thomas Foster, on an assessment visit of Nigerian ports and terminals across the country, described USCG as the most valued partner in ensuring that Nigerian ports are safe for business.
He said, “Nigeria places high premium on issues that border on security, as such, NIMASA as the designated authority for the ISPS Code implementation is leaving no stone unturned to achieve 100 per cent implementation of ISPS Code in Nigeria.
This will guarantee the safety of vessels calling or leaving our ports.”
Speaking further the DG said, “There is no doubt that we are determined to get it right. We are determined to work with the United States Coast Guard to get it right, in order to ensure our ports are safe. As a country, we appreciate the importance of getting security right at our ports, jetties and terminals and that we are committed to it. We appeal to the USCG to continue in rendering necessary assistance to NIMASA, as the Agency is open to support and partnership from them.
In his remarks, Foster commended NIMASA for its strides in ensuring safety at the ports and expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure development as regarding ISPS Code implementation in the ports. “It appears the energy that NIMASA has at the ports is very tremendous, as seen in all the ports we visited in Lagos”.