Nigeria will receive technical support from the United States government to improve the security at the seaports.
This, the US said, was geared towards speeding up the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.
The leader of the US Coast Guard team to Nigeria, Mr. Tivo Romero, gave the promise at a meeting with members of the ISPS Code Implementation Committee in Nigeria in Lagos during a visit to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.
A statement by NIMASA, obtained via email on Tuesday, also reported said the leader of the US Coast Guard as declaring that NIMASA was on the right path to the successful implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria.
Romero said that they had visited six port facilities in the country during their two-week visit to Nigeria and acknowledged some improvement in the port environment.
He said, "I must commend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency for its efforts so far. However, the United States Coast Guard will provide required technical assistance to ensure that infrastructural and legal instruments needed for effective implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria are put in place. I urge you all to see this project as a voyage which we have all embarked on, that must be concluded."
Romero dismissed reports that the US government would embargo vessels from Nigerian ports, noting that the US was fully behind Nigeria as a strong business partner that required desired partnership, a reason for which both countries would always continue to work together and to ensure adequate security in the maritime sector.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi, expressed gratitude for the US support to ensure compliance in Nigeria.
The director-general, who was represented by the Executive Director, Cabotage and Shipping Development, Mr. Callistus Obi, noted that the implementation of the ISPS Code in Nigeria required the support of all stakeholders.
He urged port and terminal operators to see NIMASA as a partner with the ultimate goal of improving their businesses.
NIMASA was formally appointed the Designated Authority of the ISPS Code implementation with an official letter issued by the Ministry of Transport on May 21, 2013, the statement added.
It explained, "The ISPS Code involved a continuous year to year inspection of port facilities in order to meet up with the required standard, as against an ad-hoc fire brigade exercise."
