NPA Recruits 800 Watch-Keepers

· Amaechi Launches CCCI

· Customs Disagree On Ownership

·  Project cost a top secret

 

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has deployed over 800 watch-keepers to survey various locations of the Nigerian maritime terrain and report strange incidences.

This was revealed during the operational demonstration by a senior official of NPA last week, while the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi commissioned the Command Control Communication and Intelligence System (CCCI) at the NPA headquarters. However, the cost of the security infrastructure was not disclosed in a deliberate move not to raise questions and doubts, a source noted.

The NPA’s CCCI was developed to cover maritime activities in the six ports and four pilotage districts supporting required information and data as needed by the industry. It is expected to incorporate other port automotive devices like Vessel Traffic System (VTS) pursuant to the international convention for safety of life at sea (SOLAS) and integrated port community Information system (IPCIS) with the ultimate goal to establishing an automated single window system for the maritime industry.

However, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) lamented that the facility was supposed to be a national asset and not exclusive to the NPA. Assistant Comptroller General of NCS and Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’, Charles Edike maintained that with the significant role and potentials of the CCCI, it would be better utilized as a national property.

In his keynote address at the ceremony, Amaechi stated that the emergence of CCCI was one of the positive responses to the dynamics of port modernization to guarantee safety, security and limit the operational challenges at the ports.

“This infrastructure comprises long and short range video surveillance monitoring systems as well as several other software applications which are in line with the International Maritime Organization conventions for SOLAS and the ISPS code” Amaechi said.

The Minister attributed the new project to the commitment of the President Buhari led administration as he believed that the CCCI would improve the rating of the Nigerian ports by the IMO.

Amaechi urged the entire port community to embrace the CCCI and key into its utilization for efficient port services.

Mean while, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala Usman explained that the CCCI project comprises the Maritime Operational Centre (MOC) which will enable the actual monitoring vessels.

“The development of the technology is another step toward enhancement of the authority’s drive to deliver core values of efficient service delivery in safe and secure environment, with innovative ideas to ensure  that their customers and stake holders are satisfied at all times” she said.

Ms Usman emphasized that the technology will also enable NPA to not only generate adequate revenue but also to ensure that all revenue leakages were blocked, in line with the Federal Government efforts toward revitalizing the economy.

By Kenneth Jukpor