NIMASA PARTNERS INTERPOL, SAYS PROSECUTION WILL CURB MARITIME CRIMES

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has disclosed that proper legal frame work, synergy and information sharing amongst government Agencies and Stakeholders will help curb the issues of criminalities in the nation’s territorial waterways and the Gulf of Guinea.

The Regional Specialized Officer for Maritime Piracy and Convener of the programme, Mr. Sunday Okoebor presenting a plaque to the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside during the 1st specialized meeting on maritime piracy organized by the Interpol Regional Bureau For West Africa, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Dr. Peterside who stated this during the 1^stspecialized meeting on maritime piracy organized by the INTERPOL Regional Bureau of West Africa in Lagos, called on Stakeholders to work harmoniously and not at cross purposes in order to find a lasting solution to the menace of piracy activities in the region.

Speaking further, he said that there was the need for crimes to be successfully prosecuted, adding that a process of successful prosecution of perpetrators of crimes committed at sea has commenced in order to deter others.

“We have at no point prosecuted crimes on our waterways and the security Agencies must initiate it. Every other person may give us assistance, but we have a role to play in ensuring that our waterways are safe and secured for maritime businesses to thrive. Therefore, this meeting should not just be a mere talk show because doing things in same way cannot produce results”, the DG said.

Accordingly, the NIMASA DG commended the Interpol for the initiative, noting that it will engender synergy amongst government Agencies. He also assured that NIMASA will always support any initiative that will foster the growth and development of the maritime sector.

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside (Middle) in a photograph with participants during the 1st specialized meeting on maritime piracy organized by the Interpol Regional Bureau For West Africa, held at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Also speaking, the regional specialized officer for maritime piracy and the convener of the meeting, Mr. Sunday Okoebor bemoaned the spate of criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea and blamed it on lack of synergy amongst the security agencies, which has made it impossible to have a successful prosecution.

However, he stated that capacity development of the law enforcement officers of the various countries that belong to the region is vital to tackling all forms of illegalities and criminalities.

While also calling on all security agencies to collaborate more, he noted that for the Interpol to function appropriately, there must be a fusion centre where all necessary bodies are present there, so that everyone works collaboratively which will also bridge the gap of bureaucracy, thereby giving way for proper prosecution.

On the part of the Ministry of Justice, represented by an Assistant Director, Dr. Omotayo Oni; he corroborated the fact that synergy amongst security agencies and capacity development is key to making our maritime domain safe and secured for any development to take place.

He also assured that the Ministry of Justice is working hard to ensure that the bill on piracy and maritime crimes sponsored by NIMASA  see the light of the day, to stand as a legal framework for prosecution of maritime crimes.

Also at the meeting were representatives from the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Police who equally pledged their support towards the growth and development of the maritime sector in the region.

It may be recalled that a bill on piracy and maritime crime has been put forward by NIMASA, which is intended to give the Agency the momentum required to deal decisively with all forms of criminalities on the nation’s territorial waterways.

AFRICA IS THE NEXT MARITIME INVESTMENT HAVEN-NIMASA DG

…Charges African Countries to Develop Maritime Infrastructure 

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that with the potentials of the African maritime sector, competitive operating environment, proper regulation, incentives and infrastructural development; Africa would be the next maritime investment haven.

Dr. Peterside who made this known while speaking on the theme “Promoting Sustainable Investment and Financing In Africa’s Shipping & Maritime Industry” at the Africa Maritime Summit held during the London International Shipping Week 2017 in the United Kingdom, stated that Africa’s share of import  and export via world container throughput is on the increase  annually.

The NIMASA DG who is also the Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) however regretted that Africa is still not a major player globally in maritime trade because of lack of strategic attention to the sector and pointed out that despite operating one of the largest ship registries in the world in Liberia; Africans do not own vessels to match the corresponding statistics of the large registry.

According to Dr Peterside "We are not among top ten ship owning countries, we are not suppliers of maritime professionals and we are also not a ship financing continent. While an African country is among top 10 global ship registries because Liberia operates an open registry, Africans do not own vessels. In fact African countries pay 40%-70% more freight on imports and exports due to poor infrastructure, high cost of insurance, piracy, low vessel owning capacity and poor ship connectivity” he said.

The NIMASA DG also noted that Ship or Vessel building as well as repairs and maintenance activities are near zero contribution to GDP of the continent. He urged African countries to invest in maritime infrastructure, cooperate among themselves and explore a continental Cabotage regime as recommended in the African Maritime Transport Charter for the benefit of intra continent trade. 

He said immeasurable facts have proven Africa as the next Maritime investment Haven, adding that 38 of 54 African nations are either coastal or island states. He further mentioned that the continent is one of the most endowed continents in terms mineral resources with 27% of the World’s arable lands. 

“Because of our coastline of about 30,725km hosting 90 major ports and our arable lands, Africa will continue to export Agricultural produce. Marine Transport accounts for 92% of Africa’s external trades and import, but Africa handles only 6% of global seaborne traffic with 6 ports in Egypt and South Africa handling 50% of this volume” he said.

Dr. Peterside pointed out that to advance the  Intra-Continent trade accounts; countries must invest in new ports and terminals infrastructure, ship building, recycling, ownership and maintenance which are conservatively estimated at $14.2Billion annually. He further stated that there was need for a robust financing regime of the requirements for 13 Sub-Saharan Africa countries transport infrastructure, which is estimated to be $6.4 Billion and advised countries around the continent to address the acute dearth of relevant professionals in the sector.

It would be recalled that Dr. Peterside since election as the Chairman of AAMA during the 3^rd conference of the association which was held in Abuja had always advocated for collaborative efforts of all African countries in order to grow the continent’s maritime industry. He has continued to champion the cause for Africa to remain a bloc at the international front, especially as regards seeking regulations that would benefit the continent at the International Maritime Organisation.

NIMASA is making more Revenue than Any other Agency in Nigeria

REVENUE PERFORMANCE: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMENDS NIMASA
Finance Minister, AGF Acknowledges Agencys Increased Contribution to CRF.

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has commended the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for its revenue performance in the past one year.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun who disclosed this at a workshop in Abuja on compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility (FRA) Act, noted that poor revenue performance by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) was hampering the 2017 budget implementation. She singled out NIMASA as one of the Agencies doing well in terms of revenue generation and remittances to the Federal Governments Treasury Single Account (TSA).

This is coming on the heels of the commendations by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who separately at various times commended the  Dr Dakuku Peterside led Management of NIMASA for their ingenuity in managing the affairs of the  maritime regulatory Agency and increasing the Agencys contributions to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) even at the time of economic recession.

The Finance Minister noted that despite the dwindling revenue of various Government Agencies, the current management of NIMASA brought down significantly the cost of doing business otherwise called operational cost and the Agency was still able to generate more money by half year than it did in the two preceding years.

While stating that NIMASA has proven that financial prudence, accountability and transparency can lead to sustainable economic growth in Nigeria, she enjoined all other MDAs to emulate NIMASA and plug all revenue leakages in order to allow for 100 percent implementation of the 2017 budget.

In her words, Unlike NIMASA and the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), some Agencies and Departments are operating in such a manner that returned minimal funds to Government. To this effect, a circular has been issued restricting allowable expenses in line with reforms occurring across government businesses, as compliance checks would be undertaken regularly to ensure that all Agencies and Departments adhere to the new requirements.

Mrs Adeosun also noted that the current Management of NIMASA has introduced processes that blocked loop holes thus increase revenue generation and subsequently improve its reputation leading to better confidence from stakeholders in the maritime sector.

Corroborating the Finance Ministers stance, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris also urged other MDAs to be more creative in their revenue generation efforts so that they could meet the individual targets of Agencies and collectively meet estimated revenue to fund the 2017 budget.

The AGF noted that despite the general downturn in accruable revenue to Government due to prevailing global economic situation, the remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) by NIMASA this year has been the highest by the Agency when compared to corresponding period of recent years.

It was also the first time in recent years that NIMASA will remit huge revenue into the government coffers, he said.

Recently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside informed at a Stakeholders Forum in Lagos that in order to allow for probity and accountability, the Agency has begun the automation of all its processes. This has reduced human interface in the Agencys transactions, thus improved revenue generation.


He also disclosed that the Agency had devolved more powers to its Zonal Offices to allow for early conclusion of transactions to ultimately plug revenue leakages and that NIMASA is now operating 24 hours in line with the Ease of Doing Business initiative of the Federal Government.

Dr. Peterside since assumption of office had always reiterated that the maritime sector, if properly harnessed can successfully form a huge component of the total budgetary requirement of the country.

POLICING: AN INTEGRAL ELEMENT OF A VIRILE MARITIME SECTOR-NIMASA DG

POLICING: AN INTEGRAL ELEMENT OF A VIRILE MARITIME SECTOR-NIMASA DG

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that effective policing is an essential component of the development and growth process of the Nigerian Maritime sector.
The DG stated this while receiving a delegation of the Police Force, Maritime Command led by the Commissioner of the Command, CP David Folawiyo who paid him a courtesy visit at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC), Lagos.

He noted that the Police Officers’ first order of business was to serve and protect; and that as an Agency of the government of Nigeria, whose mandates include ensuring safety of the Nigerian waterways, NIMASA places premium on security and all legal Agencies and instruments that facilitate and complement delivery of these mandates.
According to the DG, “let me commend you for what is in the offing to improve the nation’s maritime sector, particularly your plan to provide more police personnel to secure our waterways. We are impressed for the plans you have put in place to complement our efforts in ensuring that our maritime domain is safe for maritime and shipping activities to thrive. We are opened to partnership and collaboration, especially with the Nigerian Police Force”.

PICTURE 

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside (Middle) flanked from left by the Police Commissioner, Maritime Command, CP David Folawiyo; the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr, Armed Gambo; and from right by CP Celestine Okoye; Mr. Bashir Jamoh, Executive Director, Finance and Administration; Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, Executive Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development, both of NIMASA during a courtesy visit by the Police Commissioner recently at the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre (NMRDC)

He observed that security has a wide implication for the maritime sector and that NIMASA is taking the issue of Maritime security seriously in line with the global industry benchmark and standard, particularly the International Ships and Ports Facility security (ISPS) Code to enhance growth and regional stability.

Speaking further, Dr. Peterside commended the delegation and the entire Maritime Command of the Police Force, noting that a symbiotic relationship between NIMASA and other institutions of government in Nigeria was necessary to guarantee safety and security of our Maritime corridor, hence further promote ease of doing business in the country, in line with the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

Speaking, the Police Commissioner, Maritime Command, CP David Folawiyo noted that his command was in NIMASA to fraternize with the Agency for its achievements since the assumption of Dr. Peterside as Director General; and to also chart a path of possible partnership and collaboration as well as inform the Agency of the Command’s plans and activities.

He noted that a strong cogent relationship between NIMASA and the Nigerian Police Force was necessary to ensure a safe and secure maritime environment and that his team was ready to support the Agency to realize it enabling mandates.

CP Folawiyo disclosed the number of Police Officers deployed to the 63 police outposts within his Command. He added that the existing 2,500 Officers and men within his jurisdiction would be augmented to 5,000 on or before December, 2017. He informed the NIMASA Management that 1,300 men would be deployed to cover maritime alone, while 1,200 and 200 Officers and men are expected to be deployed to cover ports and coast activities respectively.

According to CP Folawiyo, “We are planning to bring in two helicopters to provide aerial surveillance of our maritime domain; and we are also seeking the approval of government to establish the Western and Eastern Maritime Zone to ensure effective policing and we know that this visit to NIMASA is a step in the right direction”.

It would be recalled that NIMASA recently renewed its MoU with the Nigerian Navy and also received the Federal Executive Council’s approval for acquisition of some Fast Intervention Vessels, which are all aimed to improve and foster security of the Nigeria’s territorial waters for safe and secure shipping.