NIMASA Seeks National Policy to Actualize Maritime Strategy

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside has called for the implementation of a National Maritime Policy in Nigeria to serve as catalyst for the actualization of the objectives of the Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050.

Dr. Peterside, who stated this while declaring open the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Implementation of Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050, held in Lagos, noted that a maritime policy for Nigeria will provide a platform to implement the framework for the protection and sustainable exploitation of Africa’s Maritime Domain (AMD).

R-L: Executive Director, Operations of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the representative of NIMASA DG, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, FNSE, Chairman, of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Implementation of Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050, Hajia Amina Yusuf, Air Vice Marshal, O.R. Philip from the Nigerian Air Force  and Director, Special Duties of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka at the opening of the meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Implementation of AIMS 2050 held in Lagos today

Speaking further, the DG who was represented at the meeting by the Agency’s Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Rotimi Fashakin, urged the committee to take cognizance of the current maritime security architecture in Nigeria that has been structured in line with international best standards and practices.

He also stated that in order to realize the dream of a blue economy, strategies must be put in place, and that security and capacity building amongst other initiatives are key areas to unlocking the opportunities that abound in the blue economy.  

In his words, “When you talk about the security issues, you talk about the actual and the perceived; and in the real sense of business, perception matters a lot. The Gulf of Guinea (GoG) is being perceived as not being quite safe because of few attempts we have in the GoG, but I can assure you that the Nigerian Navy and NIMASA are working hand in hand to secure the Gulf of Guinea”.

The NIMASA DG also used the opportunity to applaud the Committee for involving Ship owners in the AIMS 2050 implementation process, noting that the blue economy cannot be realized without them as they are the major assets owners. He also gave the assurance that the interest and concerns of the ship owners will also be addressed.

Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Hajia Amina Yusuf disclosed that the AIM Strategy was developed as a response to the high volume of illegal activities that have been in occurrence in Africa’s Maritime Domain (AMD), amounting to huge losses in revenue and lives amongst other issues militating against the development of the AMD.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Implementation of the African Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS) 2050 came about as the outcome of the meeting of the African Union on AIMS 2050 which took place in Addis Ababa on 24^th – 25^th July, 2015. Among the resolutions arrived at during the course of the meeting was the position that Nigeria should constitute an Inter-Ministerial Committee to enhance its efforts at fulfilling its obligation towards the adoption and implementation of the Strategy.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee constitutes of eleven members, drawn from NIMASA, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) amongst others, all with the sole aim of articulating positions towards the enhancement of AIMS 2050 and ECOWAS Integrated Maritime Strategy, EIMS activities for a robust maritime domain in Nigeria and by extension Africa.

MARITIME BUSINESS: ABUJA MoU MOVES AGAINST SUBSTANDARD SHIPPING IN AFRICA

In a bid to harmonize port state control inspection procedures that will lead to the elimination of substandard shipping in the West and Central Africa sub-region, the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will host its 3rd Ministerial Conference and 9th Port state Control Committee Meeting with the aim of developing a unified system of Port State Control inspection procedure for the region.

The 3rd Ministerial Conference themed “Tightening the Net: Regional Cooperation to Eliminate Substandard Shipping”  and the  9th Port state Control Committee Meeting will hold in Accra, Ghana from 27th -28th of March, 2018.

The Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi and the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside will join other Ministers of member states and CEOs of the Maritime Administrations to review and assess the implementation level of actions identified at the previous ministerial conferences and agree on further actions required to improve maritime safety in the region.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the DG NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside noted that NIMASA's commitment to regional integration is aimed at improving shipping.

“African Maritime Industry has come of age, this is why we owe the  continent, through our regional cooperation the responsibility of creating  a frame work that will aid the reduction and eventual elimination of substandard shipping, prevention of marine pollution and improvement of the living and working conditions of seafarers aboard ships”, he said.

The Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Barr. Mfon Usoro, noted that the meeting will present an opportunity for the Ministers and CEOs of Maritime Administrations of member states an opportunity to identify common areas of concern that require consolidation. She further said that the conference will ensure the strengthening of capacity of members States and their Maritime Administrations in order to target sub-standard ships, achieve desired regional harmonization and cooperation of port and flag state implementation processes that will also lead to improving the living and working conditions of shipboard officers and crew as well as ensure prevention of pollution in the region’s waters.

According to Usoro, this year’s event would be highlighted by the issuance of Ministerial Declaration by Ministers of Transportation in the Abuja MoU region to guide the future activities of the MoU. The conference will also feature the inauguration of the Honourable Minister of Transportation of Ghana (Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah) as the new Chairman of the MoU.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central African Region generally referred to as Abuja MoU is one of the 9 Regional MoUs and national MoU established pursuant to IMO Resolution A.682 (17) of 1991. The Organization operates under a Cooperative Agreement with the IMO. Abuja MoU was established on 22nd October 1999 as an inter-governmental organization comprising of the Maritime Administrations of countries abutting the Atlantic coast of Africa. Parties to the MoU include Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Cape Verde, Cote d’voire, Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Togo, South Africa and Liberia

HOUSE COMMITTEE COMMENDS NIMASA ON BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION

…As Dakuku assures Committee on Accountability

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has received commendations from the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration for its performance in the 2017 budget implementation adding that NIMASA should strive to improve on its performance in 2018.

The commendation was made by the House Committee led by its Chairman, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago who expressed delight on the Agency’s strides in repositioning the Nigerian maritime sector since the inception of this administration during an oversight visit to the Agency today.

Speaking shortly after listening to a presentation from the Agency on 2017 budget performance, which was based on the five transformation agenda of the Dr. Dakuku led Management, Hon. Bago noted that there have been improvements in the Agency’s activities in the last year and it is a welcome development for the nation’s maritime industry.

R-L: Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education & Administration, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, Director General Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Deputy Chairman of the Committee Hon. Solomon Adeelu Ezinwa and a member of the Committee Hon. Sir Jones Chukwudi Onyereri during the oversight visit of the committee to NIMASA in Lagos today.

While also commending the Agency on the feat achieved in the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) through the sea time training, which was hitherto a challenge in the recent past, the Committee urged the Agency to fast track the delivery of the fifth largest floating dock to Nigeria as it will help mitigate capital flight and also create more jobs.

“We are have visited beneficiaries of NSDP in some countries, in Egypt for example we discovered over 300 cadets undergoing sea time training. As a Committee, we will continue to give the Agency the required legislative backing in ensuring that it achieves its mandate in order to ensure a robust maritime sector”, Hon. Bago said.

On his part, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside expressed appreciation to the committee for their unalloyed support to the course of the Agency, reiterated the Agency’s commitment to continue to make accountability its watchword and the Agency’s resolve to continue to cooperate with the Committee in the interest of the maritime industry and the country as a whole.

According to the DG, "when you are given an assignment, you are expected to be accountable; you are expected to conduct the assignment in a transparent manner and that is exactly what NIMASA is doing. We have the mandate to promote and regulate shipping activities in Nigeria and we have to continue to engage all Stakeholders both locally and internationally and assure them of a conducive environment for their businesses to thrive”, the DG said.

Also in the area of capacity development, which is one of the five strategic pillars of the current leadership of the Agency to revamp the sector, the DG stated that training and retraining of staff has been a major focus, which has helped in improving productivity and professionalism of the workforce.  

Dr. Peterside who assured the Chairman and members of the Committee that the Agency will continue to collaborate with the committee also welcomed the call for synergy between the Executive and Legislative arms of government for the benefit of Nigerians.

In his words, “The beauty of democracy is collaboration, synergy between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government. It is not we versus them; we are all working for a single purpose to help Nigerians. We are working to help the Nigerian people to ensure that life is better for all our people. No single arm of government can do it alone; we must work in a collaborative manner”.

It may be recalled that in the last two years of the Dr. Dakuku Peterside’s led administration several transformation has taken place and this has been made possible through continuous collaboration with Stakeholders, both locally and internationally.  

Maritime Sector Has Capacity to Catalyze Economic Growth – NIMASA DG

…Bags Award of Excellent Leadership in Public Service

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has stated that the Nigerian maritime sector has the capacity to catalyze economic growth and also gave the assurance that the Agency will not rest on its oars until it realizes its dream of building a robust maritime sector that will substantially contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation’s economy.  

The DG who gave this assurance in Lagos when the City People Media Group bestowed on him, the “Award of Excellent Leadership in Public Service”, at its 21^st award ceremony noted that the award is an indication that the efforts of the Agency in actualizing its mandates of repositioning the sector has not gone unnoticed.

L-R: Wife of the Chairman/ CEO of Eleganza Group of Companies; Chief (Mrs.) Shade Okoya, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and Senator Shehu Sani during the City People Sterling Leadership Qualities Award, held in Lagos.

In his words, “This award means a whole lot because it shows that Nigerians acknowledge the efforts that we are making to ensure a cleaner ocean for safe and secure shipping. Also, this will spur us to keep doing our best so as to have a robust maritime sector capable of catalyzing and impacting the growth and development of the economy”.

Speaking further, the DG disclosed that in the past two years, the Agency for the first time has been able to put over 250 cadets onboard ocean going vessel to do sea time training, making our graduates employable and have also been able to make substantial contribution to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)even as a regulatory Agency. He also added that NIMASA also went a step further to release the maritime industry forecast, which will serve as a compass to investors for the year 2018 and 2019. “Today, the whole country appreciates the fact that we are making a difference In the Maritime space, we are not only contributing to the economic development of the country, we are not only creating employment for our people we are giving people opportunities they will remember for a life time”.  Dr. Peterside said.

While expressing gratitude to Stakeholders in the industry for their continuous collaboration and support to the Agency, which has helped the Agency achieve this feat, he called on them for more support and assured them of better days ahead.    

The NIMASA DG also applauded the leadership role that the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has provided for the sector, noting that this has put the Agency on its toes in order to meet up with international best practices thereby putting Nigeria on the pedestal of global competitiveness with its counterparts.

Some of the recipients of the Award include the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Shehu Sani, The Oloni of Eti-Oni, Osun State, Oba Dokun Thompson amongst others. 

GOOD NEWS!! NIMASA, BPE PARTNER TO REFLOAT NATIONAL SHIPPING LINE

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed willingness to partner with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to refloat a National Shipping Line.

The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside who made this known when he played host to the Director General of the BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh at the headquarters of the Agency in Lagos today stated that shipping to an extent defines the growth trajectory of any nation especially as it relates to seaborne commerce.

Speaking further, the DG noted that the greatest asset in the maritime space is the vessel itself and if there are no vessels, one cannot be a major player. “You can only be a major player in name, but in reality you will not get maximum benefit from trade”.

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside presenting a copy of the Nigeria’s maritime industry forecast to the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex Okohwhen he paid a courtesy visit to the head office of NIMASA in Lagos today.   

Accordingly, Dr. Peterside disclosed that the only way to guarantee the efficiency and effectiveness of shipping, which will add value to the economy, is through the involvement of the private sector.

The NIMASA DG noted that the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi has initiated a process whereby people from the private sector will pull resources together to float a National Fleet, facilitated by the Ministry of Transportation and NIMASA, adding that the process which will enhance the Nigerian Flag is ongoing.

Furthermore, he stated that the Ministry appointed a National Fleet Implementation Committee, headed by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, Barrister Hassan Bello, who is also working closely to with the Agency.   

“The emphasis of the Federal Ministry of Transportation is to drive a process where we will refloat the National Fleet, this time with the core investors that will own 49 per cent of the shares, whereas, Nigerian Ship Owners will own 51 per cent of the shares of the firm and the firm will also be given the National Career Status. We are looking at different models, hence the importance of this engagement, so that we can review what has happened over time and choose the best model”, the DG Said.

Earlier in his address, the Director General of the BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, who commended the strides of the Dr. Peterside’s led Management of NIMASA in repositioning the maritime sector said that Bureau of Public Enterprises is the Agency of government that is responsible for sector reforms and enterprise reforms of the Federal Government. He emphasized that businesses are better managed by the private sector and that government has very little to do in business apart from creating an enabling environment for businesses to strive.

Accordingly, he stated that the BPE will be willing to partner NIMASA in the quest to revive the National Unity Line in collaboration with the private sector.

“We have looked at the Nigerian Unity Line and the only tangible asset they have is operating license. The license confers on the enterprise certain privileges, deriving from the Cabotage Act and also from the Local Content policy. This can be the foundation for the building block of a virile shipping business in Nigeria”, he said.

He therefore called on the Agency to take a common position with the Bureau in realizing the privatization mandate, which will be forwarded to the National Council on Privatization as the strategic way forward for handling this particular enterprise.

It may be recalled that as part of the Agency’s commitment to ensure a robust maritime sector, it has continued to work closely with the Ministry of Transportation, which has been at the forefront of championing the revitalization of the National Shipping Line with private sector participation.

Dakuku doing good again: NIMASA ELEVATES 85 MANAGEMENT STAFF, 553 OTHERS

-As Dakuku Charges Them on Hardwork

The Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has approved the promotion of 85 Management Staff to their next grade levels.

The promotions were ratified at the meeting of the Board of the Agency which held in Lagos under the Chairmanship of Major General Jonathan India Garba (rtd).

A breakdown of the exercise shows that two (2) Deputy Directors were promoted to the level of Directors; Seven (7) Assistant Directors were promoted to Deputy Directors while 76 grade level 14 officers were promoted to their next grade of Assistant Directors.

Those promoted to full Directors are the Agency's Head of Internal Audit, Mr. Victor Onuzuruike and the Deputy Director in charge of Research in the Agency, Mrs. Christiana Budaye.

Similarly, the Executive Management of the Agency also approved the promotion of a total number of 553 non-management staff between grade levels 4-14, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 638.

Speaking on the promotion exercise, the Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside reiterated the commitment of the Executive Management to reward hard work, noting that it is a morale booster.

“It is true that the reward for hard work is more work, but on the other hand, hard work also comes with promotion. On our part as Executive Management we will continue to ensure that promotion exercises are conducted on a yearly basis and as at when due so that staff can be motivated to give their best to the course of rebranding the Agency and repositioning the maritime sector for greater efficiency. By this we will be able to focus and realize our mandates as an Agency,” the DG said.    

A staff of the Agency also had this to say “this promotion is unprecedented in the history of the Agency and it has clearly shown that the Dr. Dakuku Peterside led Management is not reneging on its promises to rebrand the Agency and take it to the next level. This will make staff more focused and dedicated to their duties”

Other Staff who commented on the exercise remarked  that this is the best promotion exercise in the history of the Agency carried out in a very transparent and verifiable manner. They pledged their unalloyed support to the Dr. Dakuku led Management and promised to add values to the ideals of the Agency.

Meanwhile, the Governing Board of the Agency used the opportunity to enjoin the newly promoted staff to dedicate themselves to duty as the promotions will certainly come with more responsibilities.

While also charging the newly promoted staff to bring in to bear their wealth of experiences over the years to the discharge of their duties in order to realize the vision  of a robust maritime sector in Nigeria, the assurance was given that henceforth promotion exercises in the Agency will be conducted as at when due.