By Uche Usim
Transportation Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, at the weekend commissioned the Command, Control, Communication and Intelligence System (CCCIS) built by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The facility, whose approval was given in 2013 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, is a marine operation and surveillance centre that provides necessary business intelligence for safe and efficient movement of vessels and cargoes.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony at the NPA headquarters, the Minister said the CCCIS would ensure improved and secured communication within the nation’s waterways. “It’s also for the enhancement of efficiency within the nation’s seaports. It’s one of the positive responses to the dynamics of port modernisation as well as a device for stemming the safety, security and operational challenges facing the port system. “The facility comprises long and short range video surveillance monitoring systems, as well as several other software applications, which are in line with the International Maritime Organisation Conventions for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Ships and Port Security (ISPS) Code”, Amaechi stated.
The Minister pointed out that automation was key, especially as 90 per cent of goods coming into the country are carried via the sea.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, said the facility was designed to cover six seaports and four pilotage districts that support required information and data as needed by the industry.
“This project represents a journey and not a destination as it will incorporate other port automotive devices like the Vessel Traffic System pursuant to Chapter V, Regulation 12 of SOLAS and the Integrated Port Community Information System (IPCIS) with an ultimate goal of establishing an automated single window system for the maritime industry. It comprises Marine Operations Centre, which enables the actual monitoring of vessels; the Network Operations Centre (NOC), which is the support and infrastructure database that stores all information including recorded videos,” she stated.
The CCCIS has nine operating systems that cover the nation’s maritime domain. It has the Lagos pilotage, Bonny, Warri and Calabar pilotage units.
It is also expected to help tackle security challenges within the country and the Gulf of Guinea.