Esther Oritse
Lagos — The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) along with the Port Facility Security Officers Forum of Nigeria (PFSOFN) are currently engaged in talks to create a National Maritime Security Strategy designed to boost the safety of the country’s ports.
At the conclusion of a one-day Maritime Security Conference organized by NIMASA—who also serves as the Designated Authority for implementing the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code—Mr. Terry Ajobena, a Leading Recognized Security Organization (RSO), stated that maritime security is an essential component of national security. It involves safeguarding a nation’s maritime territory, which includes its coastal waters, harbors, sea routes, and related marine resources. --- Would you like further adjustments?
Ajobena also mentioned that Nigeria’s maritime commerce, along with its significant oil and gas resources—which are predominantly located in that area—encounters numerous security issues within its marine territory.
According to ex-Air Force members, the challenges encompass dangers like piracy, arms-related robberies, unauthorized fishing activities, oil theft, and sabotage of pipelines, among others.
He stated: "The Blue Economy, covering the nation's marine area, presents vast opportunities for economic expansion and national progress. In recent times, the Nigerian administration has made an innovative move by acknowledging and formalizing the Blue Economy through the establishment of a specialized ministry aimed at tapping into and utilizing its immense possibilities. Nonetheless, current maritime security issues present considerable obstacles to achieving these goals."
This document intends to investigate the significance of maritime security for Nigeria's Blue Economy and endeavors to suggest a cooperative strategy for improving maritime security. To accomplish this objective, the discussion will analyze how crucial maritime security is to both national security and the blue economy. Additionally, it will underscore the relevance of implementing the ISPS Code in relation to maritime security, placing it within the broader framework of national security measures.
Following that, we will briefly examine the obstacles confronting Nigeria's maritime security initiatives while highlighting how cooperation can improve marine safety and its advantages. In conclusion, suggestions will be provided on how this cooperative strategy can further boost the country's Blue Economy.
Maritime security is crucial due to multiple factors. Primarily, it plays a key role in the economy since maritime trade contributes approximately 68% to the national gross domestic product and much of our international commerce moves through the ports.
This prioritizes the safety of Nigeria’s maritime resources above all else. Additionally, threats such as piracy, armed robbery, and terrorism in marine environments could undermine overall national security, a scenario observed globally. Moreover, events related to maritime security—such as oil spills and contamination—can lead to severe ecological consequences, affecting the economic stability and societal health of local populations.
Significance of Marine Safety for the Blue Economy
“The successful exploitation of any nation’s blue economy potential will depend on having a well-organized security framework to service it. This would determine the extent of domestic and foreign investments it can potentially attract to that space. Maritime security is therefore crucial for the Blue Economy as it helps protect maritime trade by ensuring safe passage of goods and services traversing the nation’s waters.
It likewise supports fisheries and aquaculture by protecting marine life and encouraging responsible fishing methods. Ensuring the growth of the blue economy can boost offshore energy production via the safety of oil and gas facilities as well as the advancement of renewable energy sources.
Likewise, another crucial aspect that doesn’t receive much attention but holds significant importance is how security contributes to making coastal regions safer and more appealing for promoting tourism and recreational activities, which is typical in places like the Caribbean and other countries reliant on tourism.
The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, established by the International Maritime Organization, provides an extensive set of guidelines designed to strengthen worldwide maritime safety. Adopting this code could significantly improve maritime security across Nigeria through various means. It enhances security protocols via a risk assessment methodology that mandates the creation of detailed security evaluations and strategies for both ports and vessels, along with stringent controls over entry points, monitoring activities, and additional safeguard mechanisms.
The emphasis on training, drills, and exercises to enhance awareness and boost the capabilities of personnel in preventing or responding to security threats contributes significantly to wider maritime safety goals.
Furthermore, the ISPS Code enhances collaboration among maritime security organizations when there is widespread acceptance of the Code’s importance, along with partnerships with international entities such as the US Coast Guard, the IMO, the UK Department for Transport, and others.
Nigeria's attempts to boost its maritime security face numerous obstacles.
The foremost issue is the lack of a national maritime security policy and strategy. Currently, there is no unified or structured framework to organize our country's maritime security infrastructure. The absence of a clearly defined executive directive, legislative push, or legal structure has created significant voids in our collaborative endeavors to maintain secure marine areas. Consequently, alongside these issues, maritime crimes such as piracy, armed robbery, and oil theft continue to be distressingly common.
Although the drive for enhanced ISPS compliance has led to significant advancements in the physical security of port facilities nationwide, further developments in operational procedures and security infrastructure are still necessary.
Intimately linked to this issue is the financial hurdle faced by many governmental entities, which is clear from their insufficient equipment, staff, and resources required to effectively carry out their legal responsibilities.
A further issue hindering the efficacy of maritime law enforcement initiatives is the widespread "silo" mindset and evident competition among security organizations, which leads to gaps in operations, coordination, and communication.
Intelligence plays a crucial role for any government security or law enforcement organization within the marine domain.
The effective implementation of the ISPS Code relies heavily on this aspect as well. However, there is a significant lack of intelligence within our maritime security framework due to insufficient or poor-quality information. We aren’t producing adequate intelligence, and even when some exists, it isn’t being shared effectively."