Unauthorised access, drug trafficking, others complicate port security

Unauthorised access, drug and human trafficking as well as surge in stowaway incidents are raising fresh concerns about the poor implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code in the country.

The Guardian learnt that security personnel at the ports, including watchmen, often grant unauthorised access to ships before crossing the breakwaters, in exchange for financial and material bribes.

This troubling practice is undermining Nigeria’s maritime security and aiding illegal activities on the country’s waterways.

A ship and port agent, Jeremiah Nuhu, disclosed that security lapses are rampant across several Nigerian ports.

He described how criminal elements exploit the security weaknesses, smuggling drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and synthetic substances like methamphetamine and fentanyl into vessels.

Nuhu revealed that some individuals come onboard with drugs, while others assess vessel vulnerabilities, using stowaways, who disguise themselves as fishermen, to gain access to ports and ships.

Nuhu also pointed to widespread corruption among various security agencies at the ports, accusing them of accepting bribes to allow unregistered individuals unchecked access, thus compromising the safety and security of Nigeria’s maritime domain.

He identified several root causes of the growing drug and human trafficking issues, including widespread unemployment, poverty and poor living conditions in coastal communities.

Nuhu also highlighted the lack of robust enforcement of government policies, inadequate education and deep-seated mistrust between the government and local populations as significant factors.

While the implications of the security lapses are severe, Nuhu warned that they pose serious threats to ships and seafarers, leading to loss of productivity, workplace accidents, crime, theft, kidnapping and even piracy among others.

A United States-certified maritime and anti-piracy security specialist, Prof. Alfred Oniye, highlighted that the lax implementation of the ISPS code has severely compromised its effectiveness in Nigerian ports.

Oniye said the ISPS Code, established under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), mandates rigorous security measures to prevent unauthorised access. In Nigerian ports, the measures are often bypassed, compromising the security of maritime operations.

Oniye addressed the significant threat posed by drug trafficking through maritime channels, warning that failure to adhere to these regulations could result in sanctions and restrictions on international trade under SOLAS Chapter XI-2.

Oniye also flagged stowaways and unauthorised surveillance of vessels as critical concerns, noting that these activities compromise the safety and security of maritime operations.

In the light of these alarming findings, the security experts called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.

Oniye stressed that while national and international laws provide a robust framework for addressing these issues, effective enforcement and compliance are crucial to maintaining maritime security and safety.

Nuhu urged the government to equip maritime security officials with the necessary tools and ensure regular training and upgrades for personnel.

He emphasised the importance of meticulous licensing and permitting processes, improved welfare packages for officers, and stricter controls over who is granted access to ships and ports.

Nuhu also called on the government to identify smuggling routes, establish strong cooperation with coastal communities, invest in local expertise, and create an enabling business environment for indigenous maritime communities.

Specifically, Nuhu urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to conduct thorough searches of all small watercraft proceeding to sea and ensure proper management of narcotic inventories onboard ships.

He also called on the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) to vet all foreigners operating in Nigerian waters, arrest those without proper documentation, and conduct real-time formalities.

Nuhu further highlighted the critical roles of the Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) and the Nigerian Police (Marine Command) in ensuring that only registered chandlers supply ships and that all forms of criminality and illegality are eradicated from the nation’s inland waterways.