The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said in exercise of its powers as the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code, it had shut the Magcobar Manufacturing Limited jetty at Reclamation Road Port Harcourt and Shoreline Logistics Limited at Old NPA Port, Marina Road Calabar.
“The action was taken against both facilities for failing to comply with the provisions of the code after repeated warnings to ensure compliance failed to elicit the desired result,” said NIMASA Head of Public Relations, Hajia Lami Tumaka.
She said in its bid to ensure total compliance to the provisions of the code, the agency had instituted stringent measures against defaulting facilities, having worked hard to attain its present position of over 80% compliance with the nation’s 129 ships and ports facilities.
“The shut facilities will remain closed until their managers correct the identified deficiencies and pay a prescribed fine before they will be reopened for business,” she said.
It will be recalled that NIMASA had two weeks ago shut the Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited Jetty at Ibafon, Lagos for non-compliance to the ISPS code.
The agency said the exercise, which is a continuous one, “is with a target to achieve 100% compliance that will guarantee the security of ships and ports facilities especially in a period when terrorists’ activities have been heightened”.
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