Attacks on Vessels at Berth - Need to review our security Architecture

In recent times, vessels anchored at the nation’s seaports, especially the Lagos ports, have come under blistering attacks from hoodlums who are basically sea robbers set out to pillage these vessels.

The incident assumed a frightening dimension when over 10 different cases of robbery attacks carried out on vessels across the sea ports in Nigeria were recorded less than one month ago.

This alarming statistics was probably what made the management of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) raised alarm at a public function in Lagos recently.

This platform,the nigeriamaritime360.com, is no less worried by this mindless attacks.

We are not worried by the alarm raised by NPA, which we believe came too late ,but concerned with the implications of these attacks to the whole of security system at the ports.

We are concerned that these incessant attacks have exposed the porous level of security at our waterways and waterfronts.

It even becomes more worrisome that while the country is still grappling with the challenges of piracy on its waterways which has earned Nigeria the notoriety of having the most dangerous waterways in the world, to think we can not also keep our waterfront safe and secure vessels at berth can only point to one sad fact.

The cold fact is that our entire security architecture at the ports has been compromised and government needs to take urgent steps to revamp it.

We are not impressed by the “crocodile tears” being shed by the NPA over this unfortunate incident as it has exposed its failings to provide adequate security at the waterfront and vessels on anchorage.

This is one of the core responsibilities of the agency after its primary function of terminal operations have been taken away under the concession arrangement.

More troubling is the fact that the agency has just woken up to its statutory responsibility of patrolling the waterfront and destroying the shanties close to the ports from where these miscreants launch attacks.

We also found as amusing that the NPA has just realised the need to increase patrol on the waterfront when its management declared its intention to purchase more patrol boats to carry out these activities.

This is a sad commentary on the level of alertness of most of our government agencies to their statutory responsibilities.

We would not however spare the terminals operators, especially those whose facilities have become soft spots for these attackers.

The concession agreement imposes some amount of burden to provide certain level of security for vessels on anchorage at their terminals.

If they have half of the intense passion for security of what they have for making profit , then the level of attacks on vessels at their facilities would abate .

However, we enjoin the Federal government to look at the entire security architecture at the ports and find a way of restructuring it to reflect the modern reality.

Stakeholders such as Maritime workers union of Nigeria and Nigerian Merchant Navy and Water Transport Senior Staff Association have all offered what they felt could ease the unwarranted attacks.

While Adewale Adeyanju, the President -General of the Maritime Workers Union believed that some disgruntled union members whose employment as tally clerks and onboard security men was terminated by NPA under the concession agreement are behind these attacks with active connivance of some of the unscrupulous workers at the terminals, Engr. Matthew Alalade of Merchant Navy argued that the ban on the use of private security on board vessels by the government are all causative factors for these attacks.

We want to align our thoughts with these observations.

At pre- concession programme when stevedoring contractors supplied workforce such as tally clerks and onboard security who are part of dockworkers to the NPA, such attacks were not rampant at the same level we are witnessing them in recent times.

Those personnel secured the vessels on anchorage.

Given the fact that this arrangement was jettisoned under the concession arrangement, both the NPA and the terminals operators who are to complement each other in this regard have failed.

The policy of Federal government to outlaw the use of armed private security guard did not also help matter.

Prior to this policy, vessels owners, due to the security lapses on our waters and the failing of statutory government agencies to provide security, paid for private security to guide their vessels.

However, these attacks assumed an alarming upward swing shortly after the policy, giving an impression that these hoodlums exploited the loophole created by this policy.

As much as we concede the right to come up with this policy to the federal government, we strongly feel it would be counter productive if adequate alternative is not provided.

From all indications, no such alternative was provided given the frenetic level of attacks in recent times.

This platform is more concerned about the far- reaching effects of these attacks if not nipped in the bud.

For instance, our ports would be declared a war zone by the shipping companies who will then slam war risk surcharge on our ports.

This will invariably engender an increase in insurance premium that will in turn lead to increase in freight cost.

This will be applicable to vessels that may feel reluctant to call at our ports while some may outrightly boycott Nigerian ports, especially where these attacks are more prevalent.

We are therefore calling for an inter -agency collaboration to tackle this menace before it attracts reproach from the global shipping community.

Since NPA security personnel cannot bear arms, the agency should collaborate with marine police in its patrol of our porous waterfronts.

The terminal operators should be compelled by the NPA to also live up to the concession agreement in respect of the provision of security in their terminals more than the type they provide to streamline movement of Customs Brokers into their facilities.

Similarly, since the personnel of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA ) equally cannot bear arms, its MoU with the Nigeria Navy, a security agency which statutorily bears arms, should be strengthened to fortify our waterways.

We however commend NIMASA and Nigerian Navy in this regard.

We believe that NPA should provide the necessary leadership in this collaborative efforts to tackle the menace and prevent it from festering to the point of endangering the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) Code that may lead to ships coming from Nigerian Ports being barred from entering the United States of America and its allied countries.