REMARKS BY MR. PRESIDENT AT THE

INAUGURATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL

IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE ON MARITIME

SAFETY AND SECURITY (PICOMSS), January 9, 2004

Protocol

I am delighted to welcome all of you to this epoch making event. This Committee being inaugurated today and the tasks assigned to it has its roots in the unfortunate incident of September 11, 2001. The terrorist attack in the United States that day revealed the vulnerability of international transportation modes to abuse and attacks by aggrieved and misdirected persons. The negative effect of such terrorism acts especially the dreadful dislocations that can befall entire societies and their economies is now a forceful reality of human civilization. This requires that we give a resolute and proactive response to the menace of local and global terrorism both of which are unacceptable.

For the maritime transportation sector, the International Maritime Organization developed new and appropriate measures relating to security of ships and port facilities. In December 2003, the Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security was held in London and adopted new provisions in the International Convention for Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS) of 1974. Amendments were made to relevant Chapters of SOLAS, to create the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

It will come into force and become mandatory on Contracting Governments from July 1st 2004.

From that date, the provisions of the Code will become the standard international framework through which Contracting Governments, Government Agencies, Local Authorities, Port and Ship industries - can cooperate or be Judged- in the global commitment to detect security threats in the maritime transportation sector.

Our government has followed these international developments with keen interest. We are in large measure a maritime dependent nation. About 90% of our exports and imports are sea-borne. We have strategic national resources and assets that are marine-based. This Code will impact on the operations of our seaports. Some aspects of it apply to our vital offshore assets and business. We are fully aware of the imperatives of compliance and risks of non-compliance. From July 1st, 2004, safety and security concerns will become the global pridrity in the maritime transportation mode and in the development of marine-based resources. Safety and security needs will determine the routes for the easy flow of shipping traffic and may indeed, reinforce or degrade existing commercial interests and relationships.

We accept the sense of political urgency that informed the development of this Code. We fully appreciate the short time frame for compliance. We are aware that the Code can and will be enforced by individual nations, even before the mechanisms and regulations for global enforcement are worked out.

All maritime-dependent nations are thus confronted with the daunting task of complying. We must therefore marshal our resources, energies and patriotism as we should when engaged in a moral equivalent of war. I am aware that relevant stakeholders, agencies and parastatals have since undertaken several measures towards ensuring compliance. This Committee represents our final thrust to achieve full, timely and comprehensive compliance through a synergy of these various institutional efforts.

Complying with this Code will pose many challenges, but it will also give us the opportunity to once again reaffirm the core objectives of this government. Government has therefore directed that we must quickly complete the risk and vulnerability assessment for all our facilities to which the Code will apply. I can assure you all that, within our means, we will continue to invest significant financial outlay for the upgrade of ports infrastructure, structural and operational systems. We will expedite action and ensure more private Sector participation in the running of our port facilities. This way, we can be sure to develop the appropriate work procedures, practices and documentations for secure, safe and fast port operations. We will continue to strengthen our maritime safety administration, to ensure that we meet the standards expected by the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) model audit scheme.

We will sustain and improve on efforts to stamp out piracy, robbery, brigandage, illegal bunkering, corruption and other nefarious activities being carried out by criminals on our territorial waters.

The Code will compel far-reaching institutional reforms, orientations in our public services and officers. We have to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and functionality of all the relevant government institutions. We need greater cooperation and coordination within the government, and must create synergy, within and between, all shipping and port industry stakeholders. It needs to be emphasized that stakeholders in the instance means - ``all involved with or using, ships and port facilities, including ship’s personnel, port personnel, passengers, cargo interests, ship and port management, and those in National and Local Authorities with security responsibilities’’.

I welcome these challenges and opportunities. They provide us with the opportunity to drive our public and provide us with the port sector reforms with increased vigour, commitment and focus. They are in line with the core objectives that this government has pursued in the last four years. They

also form part of our on-going reforms for growth, stability, and development.

The government has already approved the administrative, legal and technical implementation frameworks for the ISPS Code. You should therefore get to work, and ensure that those things that we can do for ourselves are done quickly. For other aspects of complying with the Code that will require the assistance and cooperation of other countries you can confidently rely on the diplomatic gains that we have made in the past four years.

As I inaugurate this committee, I charge you to bear in mind that you are at the frontline of this moral equivalent of war. On 1 July 2004, Nigeria will be judged by efforts, initiative and dedication. I will accept one, and only one outcome - success.

Thank you.