Port users raise alarm over insecurity at Josepdam terminal — urge NPA to sanction the concessionaire

Tayo Oladipupo I

Port users, especially importers and their agents, have expressed worry over what they described as high level of insecurity at Josepdam terminal , Tin-Can port, which they claimed has resulted to incessant robbery attacks on vessels on anchorage at the terminals.

The agitated port user therefore called on the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to sanction the concessionaire, Josepdam Port Services, the operator of the facility.

Josepdam, the operator of berth 1 and 2 at Tin-Can Island port complex, Lagos has experienced series of attacks at the terminal due to security lapses by the operator.

Though, Marine Police is expected to secure the quay, other terminal operators are also providing security apparatus to secure their quays against potential attacks on vessels at berth.

Clearing agents who condemned the incessant attacks, said failure of Josep‎dam to secure its quay led to attacks on the terminal leading to loss of confidence by importers.

However, the agents said the attacks may not be unconnected with insider sabotage.

Recall that on March 18, a group of sea robbers numbering about 20 gained access into Josepdam terminal through the waterfront and headed to the terminal’s fuel dump.

The robbers beat up and tied the security guards at the fuel dump before they connected a hose from their standby boat to evacuate fuel from the terminal’s fuel tank. The robbers, who reportedly operated unchallenged for more than an hour, succeeded in carting away about eight drums of diesel from the terminals.

Four days later and precisely on March 22, 2018, the robbers called at Josepdam again. This time, they launched an attack on a ship named MV Kiana. The ship, which was discharging its cargo of bulk sugar belonging to BUA Sugar Refinery, has Nura Shipping Limited as its agent in Nigeria.

The robbers, as usual, stormed the ship using canoe, which they brought alongside the ship and gained access onboard with the aid of a rope tied to a hook.

Speaking on the incident, a clearing agent, Ikechukwu Nwani asked the Nigerian Ports Authority to sanction the terminal operator over its poor security architecture.

Nwani said the porous nature of Josephdam can affect other terminal operators and affect the gains made by the country in implementing International Ships and Ports Security (ISPS) code.

“The incessant attacks and compromise of staff of Josepdam can affect the security of other terminals on the axis and it is better the government sanctions them in order to sit tight.

“If you visit their terminal, you will know it is the most porous and you imagine how they became compliant with the ISPS code.”

He continued, “Their berth is porous, that is why they recorded three consecutive attacks in one month.”

Meanwhile, investigations have shown that there was insider compromise from staff of the terminal operator who colluded with sea robbers to attack the terminal.

Confirming this, the President-General of the Maritime Workers Union Of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju confirmed that staff of the terminal were complicit on the attacks successfully carried out on the terminal.

Adeyanju however disclosed that the compromised staff (name withheld) had however being sacked by the management of Josepdam.
He said, “Some of the staff of Josepdam that were involved in this issue have been sacked. The boys came to me and I told them they are on their own if you are involved they should face their music. No union will encourage that type of thing.”

It was however discovered that the terminal is one of the most porous terminal at the Tin-Can island port.

The terminal though was operating on security level one like other terminals at the port but the berth is not reinforced with security apparatus such as CCTV, Security alarm that will alert security officers of security breach and other security apparatus.