MARITIME SECURITY: NPA mulls bomb detectors at seaports

There are strong indications that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) may be planning to install state-of-the-art bomb detectors at the nation’s seaports to forestall potential security breaches at these vital economic assets.
This move by the NPA may not be unconnected with the current spate of bombings by suspected Boko Haram Islamist sect members in the northern part of the country.
Managing Director of the NPA, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, who gave the indication in Lagos last week when he received a delegation from Smiths Detection Group of France, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said that the organisation is fully determined to guard and protect the heavy investments of multinational companies at the nation’s seaports.

He revealed that the NPA is planning to establish a command control communication and intelligence centre for surveillance of all activities at the ports and serve as information network centre for security agencies.
Represented by the General Manager, Security, Lt. Col. Jamil Tahir (rtd), the NPA boss further noted that the issue of security vulnerability in Nigeria is very unfortunate and disturbing.
Abdullahi said that the NPA will continue to collaborate with other agencies to forestall security breaches at the nation’s seaports.

Sales Manager, Africa Region of Smiths Detection Group, who led the team, Loic Lebret, disclosed that his company is a world leader in security equipment manufacturing and sales, with different products on emergency response and x-ray equipment for small and big cargoes.
According to him, Smiths Detection has 483 Hieman cargo vision cameras installed at ports worldwide.
Lebret said that the spate of bombings in Nigeria will be a thing of the past, especially at the ports if the appropriate equipment, which could detect nuclear products, is installed.
The representative of Edward Green Global Limited, sponsors of the Smiths Detection Group delegation, Alhaji Aminu Tanko Yakassai, remarked that his organisation has been involved in safety of life and property in Nigeria and wishes to extend its services to the nation’s seaports.
Assistant General Manager, Legal Services of the NPA, Mrs. Eniola Williams, was also present at the meeting.