The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has stepped up the enforcement of the provisions of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in the country.
NIMASA said in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday that terminals and jetties that have failed to comply with the provisions of the ISPS Code in the country would no longer be allowed to operate unfettered.
It explained that it has perfected arrangement to withdraw all maritime services from facilities found to be operating without complying with the provisions of the code.
The Director General of NIMASA, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, had recently warned that the agency had exhausted all intermediate measures to compel deficient port facilities to address all identified areas of non-compliance with the ISPS Code without success.
According to the statement, the agency has commenced withdrawal of maritime services from such ports, terminals and jetties.
“The withdrawal of maritime services, which implies the stoppage of ship calls at such facilities, shall remain in place until the agency is satisfied that the minimum requirements for compliance with the ISPS Code have been met in the facilities,” it added.
Source: APA
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