MD’S Speech

It’s our pleasure at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to welcome you to this landmark event culminating in the official commissioning of this ULTRA MODERN device, by the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. The COMMAND, CONTROL, COMMUNICATION, AND INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM (CCCIS), a Marine Operation and surveillance centre.

This facility has been developed to cover Maritime activities in the six Ports and four Pilotage districts supporting required information and data as needed by the industry. It is noteworthy that this project represents a journey and not a destination as it will incorporate other Port automotive devices like the Vessel Traffic System (VTS) pursuant to the chapter V regulation 12 of the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the Integrated Port Community Information System (IPSIS) with the ultimate goal to establishing an automated single window system for the Maritime industry. Hence, the concept of open architecture with a design for modular compatibility.

What we are presenting for commissioning today began in 2013, when Government graciously approved the development of this Marine Operations and Surveillance Centre.

This project comprises of the Marine Operational Centre (MOC) will enable the actual monitoring of vessels. The Network Operations Centre (NOC) which is the support, and infrastructure data base, which stores all information including recorded videos.

Honourable Minister Sir, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the development of this cutting edge technology, is another step towards the enhancement of the organization’s drive towards the automation of our operations in order to deliver our core values of efficient service delivery in a safe secure environment and with innovative ideas to ensure that our customers and stakeholders are satisfied at all times.

I wish to inform our distinguished guest, that as an agency responsible for administering the international convention for safety of life at sea (SOLAS) in Nigeria, the NPA encourages and facilitates the general adoption of the highest practical standards concerning Maritime safety, as well as achieving efficiency in navigation so as to prevent and control marine pollution from ships.

On matters of maritime security, responsibility is placed on the Ports Authority to undertake detailed security assessment of Port facilities and identify threats in order to checkmate them.

Furthermore, it would enable us to surmount Security and Safety Challenges within our operations and the entire Maritime domain in the Gulf of Guinea with the capability of an interface with stakeholders aiding us to track and record Maritime Security breaches.

In addition, this technology will enable the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) not just to generate adequate revenue but also to ensure that all revenue leakages are blocked, in furtherance of the Federal Government efforts towards revitalizing our economy.

In the days ahead, the Nigerian Ports Authority will be playing pro-active roles in the digital space, ensuring there is synergy and collaboration amongst agencies in the Ports like the Navy, NIMASA, Customs and other security an intelligence agencies for the purpose sharing of information, documentation and intelligence to enhance Maritime safety, security as well as block revenue leakages.

I therefore congratulate the Federal Government on this feat which has been achieved by an assemblage of technocrats, about the best in the world. Indeed, today we can beat our chest about this technology which has better positioned us in the drive to attaining the hub status we have all longed for.

I wish to extend my appreciation to the directorates of Marine and Operations and Finance and Administration who constituted the engine room of this project and worked tirelessly day and night for its actualization. I am proud of you all.

It is expedient to also note that, this could not have been possible without the support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and other stakeholders including the contractors who delivered on real time. I wish to assure the Federal Government that the organization would maintain this facility and put it to optimal use for the satisfaction of all even as I state herewith also that this automation process is still on-going as the best is yet to come, we have only completed its first.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, may I at this juncture, invite the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi to the podium to declare this magnificent centre officially opened.