Efficiency and Effectiveness of Security Agencies in Nigeria Ports
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study includes:
- To highlight the importance of security agents in ports.
- To evaluate the performances of security agents in ports
- To focus attention on factors influencing the efficiency and effectiveness of security agents in Nigeria ports
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
SECURITY OF SHIP, PORT FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL
To begin the process, each contracting government will conduct port facility assessment; security assessment will have three essential components. Firstly, they must identify and evaluate important assets and infrastructures that are critical to the port facility as well as those areas or structures that if damaged, could cause significant loss of life or damaged to the port facilities economy or environment. Secondly, the assessment must identify the actual threats to those critical assets and infrastructures that are critical to the port facility as well as those areas or structure that, if damaged could cause significant loss of life or damaged to the port facility’s economy or environment. Then, the assessment must identify the actual threats to those critical assets and infrastructure in order to prioritize security measures. Finally, the assessment must address vulnerability of port facility by identifying it’s weakness in physical security structural integrity, protection system, procedural policies, communication systems, transport infrastructure, utilities and other areas within a port facility that may be a likely target. Once this assessment has been completed, contracting government can accurately evaluate risk. This risk management concept will be embodied in the code through a number of minimum functional security requirements for ships and ports facilities. For ships, these requirements will include: Ship security plans, Ship security officers, Company security officers and certain onboard equipment.
MENACE OF UNDESIRABLE PERSONS IN THE PORT
The negative effect of having around and within the ports the presence of undesirable persons is becoming more organized in nature. This act of astigmatism brought about by the so called wharf-rats, smugglers, drug pushers in ports, only find way in the port solely for the purpose of vandalization, pilferage and theft activities. They cause unnecessary extortions, youthful rampages and crises in the port. The activities of the so-called hooligans, creates an atmosphere of insecurity in the port, hence making the port unattractive, unsafe and risk for maritime trade (Nigeria Year Book, 2004). In other development, the over-crowding of the port security agents all edge and corners makes the operation boring in the sense that they are busy doing little or nothing. They cause confusion here and there, thereby intimidating the innocent citizens. In most cases, the port policies precisely ganged up with the wharf rats in looting cargoes, smuggling and drug trafficking.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought efficiency and effectiveness of security agencies in Nigeria ports
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source and Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain efficiency and effectiveness of security agencies in Nigeria ports. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenge of efficiency and effectiveness of security agencies in Nigeria ports
Summary
This study was on efficiency and effectiveness of security agencies in Nigeria ports. Three objectives were raised which included: To highlight the importance of security agents in ports, to evaluate the performances of security agents in ports, to focus attention on factors influencing the efficiency and effectiveness of security agents in Nigeria ports. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staff of Nigeria port Authority, portharcourt, Rivers state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made marine engineers, firemen, seamen and signal officers were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Effective ports management is a panacea for successful international trade practices. It is a key to successful international trade. Ports management facilitates global trade. This is because it makes available the necessary platform upon which international trade can be carried out. Equipment and materials imported for capacity development and industrial use come through the wharf. In the event of mismanagement of the ports, there will be supply and delay problems, which will further constitute challenges to international operations
Recommendation
The significance of effective ports management in facilitating international trade is glaring. Therefore, the study recommends that government should fund and sustain the Nigerian Ports Authority to enable it effectively manage all the ports in country. Government should build more ports in the coastal areas to decongest the existing posts and make them more productive. Finally, stakeholders in the shipping industry should collaborate with NPA and other government agencies in the ports to achieve effective port management system. Considering the vital central role played by ports in international trade and economic development of nations, it is further recommended that the private and public should get into partnership for the building of ports to achieve set national economic goals.
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