Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is planning to install state-of-the-art bomb detectors at the nation’s seaports to forestall potential security breaches at these vital economic assets.
The NPA, Managing Director, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, gave the indication in Lagos last week when he received a delegation from Smiths Detection Group of France, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, said that the organisation is fully determined to guard and protect the heavy investments of multinational companies at the nation’s seaports.
The management action planned may not be as results of the current spate of bombings by suspected Islamist sect, Boko Haram members in the northern part of the country.
Abdullahi also disclosed that the NPA is planning to establish a command control communication and intelligence centre for surveillance of all activities at the ports and serve as information network centre for security agencies.
He said that the NPA will continue to collaborate with other agencies to forestall security breaches at the nation’s seaports.
In the vein, the General Manager, NPA Security, Lt. Col. Jamil Tahir (rtd), further noted that the issue of security vulnerability in Nigeria is very unfortunate and disturbing.
Sales Manager, Africa Region of Smiths Detection Group, who led the team, Loic Lebret, disclosed that his company is a world leader in security equipment manufacturing and sales, with different products on emergency response and x-ray equipment for small and big cargoes.
According to him, Smiths Detection has 483 Hieman cargo vision cameras installed at ports worldwide.
Lebret assured Nigerians that the spate of bombings in the country will be a thing of the past, especially at the ports if the appropriate equipment, which could detect nuclear products, is installed.
Meanwhile, the representative of Edward Green Global Limited and the sponsors of the Smiths Detection Group delegation, Alhaji Aminu Tanko Yakassai, noted that his organisation has been in the forefront campaign for the safety of life and property in Nigeria, now determine to extend its services to the nation’s seaports.
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