No fewer than 18 vessels laden with petroleum products are waiting to berth at the Lagos seaport. The shipping position of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) obtained yesterday revealed that the vessels, including two other vessels, were being delayed to berth as they await release by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
However, 32 other vessels conveying Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), general cargo, Jet A1 (aviation fuel), steel, sugar, wheat and fertiliser are expected to arrive at the Lagos pilotage district before December 29.
The 18 vessels were labelled CRNAPP- Custom’s Release Not Applicable (West Coast).Meanwhile, the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Usman, has called on all Ports Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) to double their efforts and remain vigilant in their various facilities to curb the high level of insecurity and threat in the maritime domain.
Usman, who made this call at the conference of Ports Facility Security Officers Forum of Nigeria in Calabar, Cross River State, urged the PFSOs to pay special attention to intelligence gathering and information sharing with other security agencies at the ports.
Represented by the General Manager, Security, Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, the NPA boss commended the officers for their commitment to duty, particularly on the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) code since its inception in 2004, by keeping ports facilities and the entire maritime industry safe over the years.
While reiterating the preparedness of NPA to collaborate with all relevant security agencies and other stakeholders for improved security at the ports, she assured that the organisation would continue to support the security officers in their efforts to ensure continuous safety of the maritime domain.
