The Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) has called for the elimination of delays stalling private maritime security operations even as it deepened collaboration with the Nigerian Navy to boost operational efficiency and standardise security protocols.
MASPAN President, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Michael Oamen, at NNS Beecroft, Lagos.
While the MASPAN delegation presented the association’s achievements, interventions, and recommendations for strengthening Nigeria’s maritime security framework, Maiguwa traced MASPAN’s roots to discussions with naval officers during the 2013 Expanded Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security Conference.
Maiguwa noted that MASPAN was formally registered in 2016 to protect members’ interests, promote standards, and support the Navy’s mission in securing the maritime domain.
He, however, expressed concern over inspection and clearance delays for newly acquired security vessels, with some companies waiting up to four months, stating that “these delays cause heavy financial losses, drive up costs, and force loan restructuring that stretches repayment schedules for years.”
Maiguwa highlighted the association’s structure covering private security companies, logistics support providers, training institutions, and consultants designed to address sector-specific concerns before escalation.
Past interventions, he said, include drafting operational guidelines to ensure compliance with Nigerian laws and global best practices, mediating disputes over vessel manning, and stabilising charter rates to maintain safety standards.
He proposed out-of-schedule inspections funded by operators and pre-departure inspections abroad to speed up deployment once vessels arrive in Nigeria.
MASPAN also pushed for formal recognition of its industry standards, including 24-hour operational control rooms for private maritime security companies, arguing they would improve safety, level competition, and complement Navy surveillance.
While acknowledging recent improvements in personnel deployment compliance, Maiguwa urged the Navy to sustain enforcement to prevent operational lapses and ensure fairness.
Rear Admiral Oamen commended MASPAN’s structured approach and reaffirmed the Navy’s readiness to work closely with stakeholders to secure Nigeria’s waters.
Both parties pledged continuous engagement to remove bottlenecks, strengthen compliance, and enhance maritime safety.
