By Blessing Elo Oghene
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has directed Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOs) across the country to submit marine incident reports through approved channels, warning that failure to comply could attract sanctions.
The directive was contained in a notice dated October 28, 2026, with reference number NIMASA/ISPS/ADMI/2026/112, signed by Mudi Isa, Head of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code Unit.
Titled “Non-Receipt of Incident Reports/Submission to Approved ISPS Unit,” the notice expressed concern over the non-receipt of incident reports by the unit and warned maritime security practitioners against sending reports to individual NIMASA staff members instead of the designated reporting channel.
According to the agency, the failure to submit security incident reports through the appropriate channels constitutes a breach of International Ship and Port Facility Security Code compliance.
The notice directed all maritime operators, terminal users and relevant personnel to submit reports immediately after detecting any security incident or unusual activity.
It stated that all incident reports must be sent to the approved ISPS Unit email address, isps@nimasa.gov.ng, to ensure proper documentation and timely response.
The agency further instructed security officers to stop copying or sending reports to individual staff email addresses unless expressly authorised to do so.
It also directed officers who do not receive an acknowledgement from the ISPS Unit within 24 hours of submitting a report to contact the unit immediately by telephone.
Additionally, the notice advised maritime security practitioners who are uncertain about the current approved email directory to contact the unit for verification.
NIMASA stressed that adherence to the reporting procedure was essential to maintaining effective maritime security and ensuring that incidents receive the necessary attention.
The agency expressed appreciation to maritime stakeholders for their cooperation in upholding international safety and security standards, urging them to comply with the directive.
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, established under the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), provides security measures for ships and port facilities against potential threats.
The code requires effective security procedures to help protect vessels, crew members, port infrastructure and maritime supply chains from security risks.
NIMASA’s directive underscores the importance of timely incident reporting and compliance with established communication procedures in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain.
