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Insurgency: Customs, NPA, NIMASA, others strengthen ports security

By BusinessNews Staff on June 30, 2014

With the seizure of containers of army uniforms and boots, among others, federal government agencies – apparently apprehensive of a possible use of the nation’s ports to bring in dangerous cargos into the country as was the case in 2010 when rocket launchers and other high-calibre weapons were intercepted at the premier port, Apapa – have adopted various security measures as precaution, reports Francis Ugwoke

The increasing insecurity in the country and the apprehension that the ports could be avenues through which the Boko Haram insurgents could use in bringing in deadly weapons, have forced stakeholders to strengthen security at the nation’s ports. This became more imperative following recent seizure of containers of army uniforms and boots at both Lagos and Onne ports recently. Already, stakeholders are wondering whether the containers of rocket launchers and other arms intercepted at Apapa port in October 26, 2010, could not have been the handiwork of Boko Haram insurgents. The insurgency has been building up since then. It started with the Boko Haram sect members using Borno State as base, apparently to perfect their plans to spread to other areas as have been witnessed since then.

The arms seizure at the Apapa port was astonishing. Not many believed that the consignments were destined for this country. Speculations were that the consignments which came from Iran were meant for another country and could not have been Nigeria since the country was not in a war situation. The items include 24 crates of rocket launchers of all sizes, hand grenades and catridges. The items were so many that it took State Security Service (SSS), Customs officers, Military Defence Intelligence Unit of the Army and Police over a week to inspect, day and night. The security operatives kept vigil on the consignment at the premier ports until an order came for their evacuation. With the current situation in the country, stakeholders are beginning to think that those consignments may have been imported into the country for the use of Boko Haram. This is considering the merciless manner in which their members have maimed innocent lives and destroyed communities.

Common Front Against Insurgents
In a bid to ensure that the Boko Haram insurgents are stopped from bringing in any deadly cargo through the ports and border stations, or use the territorial waters, port stakeholders have introduced various measures to secure the ports environment. The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) have all introduced security measures to check importation of weapons through the ports by the insurgents.

Nigeria Customs Insists on Physical, 100 per cent Goods Examination
Following the increase in the activities of the Boko Haram , the Customs Service has introduced 100 per cent goods examination at the ports. Few days ago, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Alhaji Inde Dikko Abdullahi, gave a directive to customs commands nationwide to increase physical examination of goods at the ports and border stations. The idea was to ensure that no arms and ammunition concealed in whatever form can come into the country undetected. Customs Area Controller, Tin Can Island Command, Alhaji Jibrin Zakare, told THISDAY that his Command had adopted security measures to ensure that no dangerous cargo was shipped into the country through his Port. Zakare said that following this, his officers and men have subjected all vehicles and containerised goods to serious examination.

He disclosed that other security agencies in the ports were also involved in the security checks. According to him, the issue of security cannot be the concern of only government or one agency alone but all Nigerians. Similarly, his Apapa port counterpart, Mr Eporwei Edike, said his command would do everything to stop any importer from bringing in arms and ammunition through the premier port. Edike was reported to have assured that the various measures put in place will always detect any unscrupulous importer from using the premier port to bring in arms.

NPA’s Security Measures
As the landlord of the seaports, the issue of security is taken seriously by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). The Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr Musa Illiya, who spoke to THISDAY said various efforts have been adopted by the organisation to check security issues. Illiya said apart from putting in place security measures, NPA has also directed all terminal operators to increase security in their terminals, including tank farm owners. Managing Director of NPA, Malam Habib Abdullahi, earlier in a statement disclosed that as part of the security efforts, all vessels calling at the nation’s seaports have been compelled to meet all the requirements of the ship security plan as required by the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code. Abdullahi explained that this applies to all ships coming to the country as part of the additional security measures taken by the NPA to ensure the strict compliance to the ISPS Code, by all visiting vessels.
In addition, he also said the authority had concluded the process of acquiring additional security equipment to enhance safety and security at the nation’s seaports. “All the newly acquired security equipment are expected to be fully in place before the end of next September”, he assured. As part of the security measures, NPA recently provided three patrol boats to the Nigerian Navy.
Abdullahi said the acquisition of the patrol boats for the Navy signaled a demonstration of the authority’s determination to partner with other relevant government agencies to secure the nation’s territorial waters, both offshore and onshore.
He added: “We are optimistic that these patrol boats, consisting of one 32 meters OCEA named NNS DORINA and two 17 meters MANTA boats named NNS TORIE and NNS EGEDE , with their unique operational features and capacities, will augment the fleets of the Nigerian Navy in their search and rescue operations within the nation’s water fronts.”
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin, had during the occasion said that the donation could not have come at a better time than now considering the prevailing security challenges in the nation’s maritime domain. The Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral S. I. Alade, who represented the Chief of Naval Staff, said that Nigeria’s Maritime space was of immense importance to the nation’s maritime domain. He said the acquisition of the security platform was notable in the effort towards establishment of an FOB in Takwa Bay.

NIMASA Beams Searchlight on Ships, Territorial Waters
As the local authority in charge of ports security, NIMASA cannot be more tasked than now that insurgents are spreading their tentacles in every corner of the country. Since ships and the seaports remain avenues through which dangerous cargos can come into the country, NIMASA, apart from battling the issue of piracy to save the Gulf of Guinea from being worse than Somalia as has been rated by Maritime Bureau of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) last year, is working hard to avoid any security incident either on the waters or in the ports. NIMASA had in the past two years taken the fight against pirates to target areas, including collaborating with neighbouring country of Republic of Benin in a synergy to police the Gulf of Guinea. But the menace caused by Boko Haram, and the apprehension that the seaports, ships could be the next target, have led to more security efforts by the agency. Deputy Director, Public Relations, Mr Isichei Osamgbi, said the apex shipping regulatory body was prepared to ensure the nation’s ports and territorial waters were safe for ships coming or leaving, or even Nigerians involved in international trade.
The agency recently launched a satellite surveillance system in conjunction with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force.
This was part of what helped in the successful rescue of a Ghanaian fishing vessel, Marine 711, from suspected hijackers, early in June. Osamgbi said the Ghanaian registered vessel had been reportedly hijacked off the coast of Ghana and sailed across Togo and Benin Republic to Nigerian waters.
It was at this stage that the Embassy of the Republic of Korea contacted NIMASA to help rescue the vessel, which is owned by its national.
The United States government had recently acknowledged the effort of NIMASA in raising the security levels of ships and port facilities in the country. The US was reported to have assured of its commitment to continue to partner with Nigeria to improve security measures.

[This Day]

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