The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) exercising its powers as the Designated Authority (DA) for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has shut the Magcobar Manufacturing Limited jetty at Reclamation Road Port Harcourt and Shoreline Logistics Limited at Old NPA Port, Marina Road Calabar.
According to NIMASA’s head of media, Hajia Lamin Tumaka, 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.
In its bid to ensure 100% compliance with 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 facilities.
Tumaka said 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.
It will be recalled that NIMASA had recently shut the Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited Jetty at Ibafon for non-compliance with the ISPS code.
The exercise, which is a continuous one, is with a target to achieve 100% compliance that will guarantee the security of ships and port facilities especially in a period when terrorists’ activities have been heightened.