By Godwin Oritse

AHEAD of the expiration of the deadline given by the United States Government to Nigeria to improve on its ports security or face sanctions, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has begun to install anti-terrorist gadgets and acquired  bomb sniffing dogs.

Confirming the development to Vanguard in Lagos, the General Manager  in charge of security at the NPA  Col Jamil Tahir (Rtd) said that besides the proactive moves the authority is taking to ensure that measures are put in place before the expiration of the deadline, the authority has also begun an audit of terminals.

Tahir also said that plans to also install electronic access way in and out of the various ports have reached advance  stage adding that very soon it is only people that have business at the ports that will gain access into the ports.

It will be recalled that following  the 90-day ultimatum the United States Government gave Nigeria to improve security at the nation’s seaports, the Presidency has given the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders 45 days to put necessary measures in place  to secure the ports.

The Presidency said that  Nigeria could not afford to take the threat lightly saying that  “if the issue is not treated with urgency and accuracy, it could lead to high freight rates and the economy will suffer for it.”

The U.S 90-day ultimatum, Vanguard gathered, was issued April and it will elapse next month.

Speaking at a recent stakeholders meeting in Lagos, Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Maritime Affairs, Mr. Leke Oyewole, said that the country could not afford the allow to United States ultimatum catch up with the industry without initiating moves to secure and safeguard the ports.