Capacity building efforts received a much-needed shot in the arm, as the National Maritime Centre, owned and operated by the Trade Facilitation Centre established by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Office of the President, has commenced training programmes for stakeholders in the maritime sector.
The General Manager, Public Affairs, NPA, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, who confirmed the cheery news, stated: “The first in the series of training programmes took place recently with the theme: Protecting Nigeria’s Seaports, and was restricted to official members of the Nigerian government involved in maritime operations.”
Ebubeogu explained that the inaugural programme “was designed to provide the Nigerian maritime community with the needed information to protect their facilities (offshore, onshore and sub-sea) from potential terrorists and criminal threats.”
The inaugural course, according to him, was attended by representatives of security agencies in the maritime sector.
The NPA image maker said that a similar one will soon be organised for other operators in the sector.
Ebubeogu stated: “The Trade Facilitation Centre is established to manage all information flow within Nigeria’s maritime domain in an effort to deliver efficiencies, effectiveness, safety and security throughout her seaports and waterways.
“It is the single point of reference for all activities within the seaport community, the single point of contact for all individuals within the port community system and the single point for all maritime data.
“The Trade Centre will also be responsible for managing and operating the Integrated Port Community Information System (IPCIS) along with the delivery of related services.”
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