The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has praised Nigeria for making significant strides in implementing the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
This commendation was given by Joe Prince Larson of the US Coast Guard, who led a delegation from the International Port Security Programme on an assessment tour of several port facilities across Nigeria. The visit aimed to evaluate the level of compliance with the ISPS Code at various ports in the country.
The USCG team conducted inspections at the Dangote Port and Lekki Free Trade Zones in Lagos State, as well as private port facilities operated by Matrix and Julius Berger in Warri, Delta State.
In his interim assessment report to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Larson highlighted that Nigeria’s compliance with the ISPS Code ranks among the best globally. He expressed confidence in NIMASA’s ability to maintain the high standards already achieved and pledged to relay the positive findings to the leadership of the US Coast Guard.
“We had the pleasure of visiting Matrix and Julius Berger in Warri, Delta State, before proceeding to the Lekki Deep Seaport and Dangote Port in Lagos. The overall assessment was highly positive, and we observed that the level of compliance is on par with some of the best maritime nations globally,” Larson stated.
Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of NIMASA, expressed his delight at the positive feedback from the USCG delegation. He credited the progress to the Federal Government’s dedication to maritime security and the efforts of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, led by Minister Adegboyega Oyetola.
Mobereola reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to sustaining the improved compliance levels at the nation’s ports. “This acknowledgment by the USCG is a testament to the commitment of the Federal Government and the dedication of the Agency to uphold international standards in port security,” he said.
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