Nimasa turned off the two lagos port facilities for the Violation of the ISP code

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Nimasa) has closed the Shelllux and TMDK terminal, both of them are located in the Ijegun-EGBA area in Lagos.

Enforcement actions taken on Thursday followed the continuous non-compliance by the facilities with the provisions of the ISPS code, although there were several formal warnings.

ISPS code, amendment to the SOLAS convention, was developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to improve maritime and port security, especially for facilities involved in international trade.

This step is in line with the best global practice and in accordance with Section 79 (f) of the ISP code implementation regulation (2014), which mandates the closing of any facility that still violates for more than three calendar months.

Director General of Nimasa, Dayo Mokereola, who confirmed the development for journalists. Referring to the agency’s commitment to protect the Nigerian maritime domain.

He said: “In holding a big stick, we act only as the last attempt,” he said. “Our main goal is to uphold safety and security practices in all Nigerian ports and pier.

“When we collaborated with the United States coast guard to raise the condition of entering the ship from Nigeria, we were unable to provide irregularities that endangered our progress.”

Mobley added that the facility would be reopened after all compliance requirements were fulfilled satisfactorily.

“Our Minister of Sea and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola is committed to increasing the facilitation of sustainable trade for the maritime sector in a safe and conducive environment,” he said.

By: Babajide Okeowo

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