Jamoh: NIMASA Poised to Safeguard Dockworkers’ Welfare, Rights

       Seeks more collaboration with stevedoring companies

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has declared a renewed commitment towards furthering the interest of stevedores as captured in the 2014 Stevedoring Regulation. Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in Lagos during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC). Jamoh pledged to work more closely with the NASC to improve the working conditions of dockworkers in the country.

Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh making a presentation to the President, National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC) Mr. Bolaji Sunmola during a courtesy visit by NASC to the Agency in Lagos recently.

He sought closer partnership between the Agency and NASC, and greater involvement of the stevedoring companies in the ongoing effort to amend the NIMASA Act.

The Director-General stated, “We understand our responsibility towards the dockworkers and we are committed to ensuring that their rights and welfare are safeguarded at all times. Our recent directive to registered stevedoring companies, via a marine notice, to mobilise to their work locations and commence operation is in line with that commitment.  

L-R: Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Rt. Hon Victor Ochei; President, National Association of Stevedoring Companies (NASC) Mr. Bolaji Sunmola; Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Mr. Shehu Ahmed and Executive Director, Finance & Administration, NIMASA,  Hon. Chudi Offodile during a courtesy visit by NASC to the Agency in Lagos recently.

“NIMASA is, as always, willing and available to assist dockworkers. We remain committed to facilitating an enabling environment for stevedores to operate, and thrive.

“As an agency, we need deeper partnership with the stevedoring companies and, indeed, more participation from you in the current effort to amend the NIMASA Act and realise a more robust law that works for all of us.

 “But we also urge the NASC to be more proactive in communicating challenges you face to facilitate more timely interventions by the Agency.”

Jamoh appreciated the steps the leadership of NASC was taking to improve capacity and welfare of stevedores. He said closer collaboration between the association and NIMASA would result in more efficient operations at the ports and better working conditions for dockworkers.

Earlier, President of NASC, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, who led the visiting delegation, stated that since its inception, the association had provided a platform for discussion, formulation, and implementation of policies affecting maritime labour, with focus on cargo handling operations. Sunmola added that assisting NIMASA in the administration of Maritime Labour, as specified in the relevant enabling Acts, remained a primary focus of the NASC.

He acknowledged the ongoing efforts of NIMASA to enforce the new Stevedoring Regulations and reiterated his association's readiness to work with the Agency to successfully implement the regulations aimed at improving revenue generation and sustaining capacity building within the maritime industry.

 

 

NIMASA, CUSTOMS TO CHECK TEMPORARY IMPORT PERMIT ABUSE

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have agreed to join forces to close loopholes in the Temporary Importation Permit (TIP) system that importers often exploit to avoid levies due to the government.  Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, when he visited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd). Jamoh said the temporary import permit issue was one of the biggest challenges faced by the maritime sector, stressing that it has denied the Federal Government huge revenue.

Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.), (left) making a presentation to the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh when the NIMASA DG paid a working visit to the Customs CG at the Headquarters of the NCS in Abuja, recently. 

Ali spoke in a similar vein, saying it is important for the NCS and NIMASA to develop a common platform for dealing with problems arising from the TIP.

Jamoh stated, “The biggest issue we have has to do with temporary importation. What we observed is that people capitalise on the good gesture of government policies.

“Those that are benefiting from this temporary importation bring in their own ship and after one year they will take it back to their country and import back with a different name.

“They do it constantly and this is to the disadvantage of our Nigerian shipowners.”

He said Cabotage trade, which falls within the core functions of NIMASA, was suffering as a result of the abuse of the temporary import permit, and, “At the end of the day, it is indigenous shipowners that bear the brunt.”

The Director-General said the Merchant Shipping Act provided that vessels used in importation should be registered with the Nigeria Ship Registry, but in most cases, the importers did not.

He called for greater synergy between NIMASA and NCS, and indeed, all agencies in the maritime sector, to address pertinent issues and improve the sector.

Jamoh said it was in pursuit of such cooperation that a regular meeting of heads of maritime agencies was recently initiated. The meeting debuted on July 7 in Lagos at the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC). It had in attendance Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello; Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman; Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Dr. George Moghalu; and Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Commodore Emmanuel Effedua (rtd).

Jamoh said the essence of the meeting was to identify and speedily tackle challenges faced by operators in the sector without the impediments of official bureaucracy. He invited the NCS Comptroller-General to join the heads of maritime agencies meeting.

“After the meeting, we decided to incorporate the Freight Forwarders’ Regulators to be on board,” Jamoh stated, adding, “The MD NPA and I have both agreed to extend the fellowship to you and you have the liberty to join us via zoom.”

Jamoh appreciated the efforts of the NCS under Ali to curb smuggling in the country and enhance revenue generation.

Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs pledged the commitment of the service to pooling resources with NIMASA to address the TIP issue and other problems in the sector. He said there was need for both agencies to design a common framework for tackling the issues.  

Ali said such approach would ensure that if Customs registered a ship and gave it a TIP, NIMASA would also have records of that registration on its own platform.

According to him, “We should have more identity of the ship beyond the name, as name can be erased and another name used. We must now collectively get some identity of the ship that goes beyond name that should be registered in our records and yours so that if there is recycling of the ship, using that platform, we should be able to identify the ship and be able to apply the law as it is.

“We should create that synergy based on ICT. I request that your IT staff synergise with ours to develop a platform that will create that collaboration, such that everything we record or register will reflect in your own record.”

The Comptroller-General said the Customs was in the process of launching two patrol boats that would go beyond the creeks, to enhance maritime security.

“We have mounted the necessary machine guns, one had an accident but it has been repaired, and very soon we will launch them into operations,” he said. “We will keep you posted as we intend to synergise with you to ensure the safety of our waterways,” Ali added.

He also stated, “It is my hope that we will strengthen the relationship and increase the synergy between us as maritime operators, and, most importantly, to ensure that not only the revenue aspect of it is improved, but also to secure our waters.

“The security of our people is more important than the revenue, because no matter how much you collect, if our people are not settled, or not in peace, then the whole essence of the revenue is bastardised.

“So it is our hope that we join hands with you and make sure that we work assiduously to ensure that our waterways are safe and profitable.”

Ali commended the NIMASA Director-General for the CEOs’ forum initiative, saying it would help to boost the sector.

Non-conventional Vessels: NIMASA Promises Tougher Action Against Untrained, Uncertified Boat Skippers

·        Advocates unified enforcement guidelines

Against the background of recent fatal boat mishaps on the country’s inland waterways, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has said the Agency would get tough with untrained and uncertified boat skippers, who often ignore safety procedures and endanger the lives of passengers. Jamoh stated this in Lagos during a courtesy visit to the Agency by General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel.

Dr. Bashir Jamoh

DG. NIMASA

The Director-General also suggested the development of cohesive safety enforcement guidelines and regulations for implementation across the littoral states. He said the harmonisation of standards and procedures for safety in the territorial waters would go a long way in minimising unsafe practices by operators of non-conventional vessels, which are not subject to international standards, but rely mainly on national regulations.

He stated, “We have a number of boat skippers that are not trained, and not knowledgeable enough, and they do not have certification. They only know how to maneuver the boat and risk people’s lives.

“We will now start to check that. The issue is important, that is why I would start to take it more seriously, because charity begins at home. If we have enforcement officers and they are laid back, they will continue to watch what is happening without doing anything.”

He added, “I am glad to see the synergy and collaboration that is developing with the Lagos State Waterways Authority because we all have as our common mandate the job of ensuring safety in our waters.”

Jamoh said the Federal Ministry of Transportation was also in the process of building unified enforcement guidelines for safety in the country’s waters, stressing that the synergy between NIMASA and the Lagos State Government would help to fast track the process.

He urged greater supervision of officers engaged in the enforcement of safety standards.

“Our responsibility is to ensure that we monitor and supervise the staff that are given the responsibility of enforcing the issue of safety at sea,” he stated, adding that safety procedures, such as availability of adequate lifejackets, good condition of the boat, and time of use, must be verified by enforcement officers before a boat sets sail.

In his own remarks, the LASWA General Manager promised to intensify information sharing between his agency and NIMASA as part of efforts to improve collaboration for maritime safety.

“We have the database of small craft, which I believe that we would be ready to share with NIMASA,” Emmanuel said.

He also elaborated on the importance of uniform enforcement procedure, saying, “I am really excited that this is happening because overtime what we generally tend to see on the waterways is an overlap of so many functions. I am sure it is not news to anyone here the issues we have had over the years between LASWA and NIWA (National Inland Waterways Authority) and how that has affected the things that have happened on the waterways.”

NIMASA DIRECTS REGISTERED STEVEDORING COMPANIES TO COMMENCE OPERATION

·        Erring facilities will be sanctioned – Jamoh

The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has directed all duly registered stevedoring companies with operational areas allotted by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), which are yet to start operation, to mobilise to their work locations. The directive, contained in a marine notice issued by NIMASA, said the affected companies should report any encumbrances to the Agency. This is in line with the Stevedoring Regulation, 2014, gazetted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, developed pursuant to the NIMASA Act, 2007.

Dr. Bashir Jamoh

DG. NIMASA

The Agency equally notified all operators of ports, jetties, onshore or offshore oil and gas or bonded terminals, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), offshore dock terminals, dry ports and platforms, and other work locations to grant duly appointed stevedoring companies access to their premises for commencement of operations. It said only corporate bodies duly registered in Nigeria would be allowed to employ dock labour or engage in stevedoring work on board or from ships. Such corporate entities must have satisfied the requirements for registration specified in the Stevedoring Regulation, 2014, and obtained a Stevedoring license from NIMASA.

“Every dock labour employer or stevedoring company shall provide proper and safe working conditions for the convenience and proper working of its employees and ensure that all stevedoring plants and equipment supplied and being used in their operations are safe and in good condition,” the Agency stated.

Employers of dock labour or stevedoring companies are mandated to provide adequate insurance cover for health, personal injury, loss of earnings, and compensation, relating to any incident affecting dockworkers or stevedores in the course of the work of the dock labour employer or the stevedoring company.

Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, warned that the consequences for non-compliance with the guidelines set out in the Stevedoring Regulation, 2014, shall be enforced, in addition to other penalties, such as detention of vessels, sealing of operational area or work location, and prosecution.

MARITIME AGENCIES ADOPT MODALITIES TO ADDRESS OVERLAPPING FUNCTIONS

MARITIME AGENCIES ADOPT MODALITIES TO ADDRESS OVERLAPPING FUNCTIONS

Parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Transportation have agreed on modalities for handling areas of overlap in their responsibilities. Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in Lagos after a meeting of heads of the parastatals at the headquarters of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC). 

L-R: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh , Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Hadiza Bala-Usman (middle), Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Barr. Hassan Bello, during the Maiden Meeting of Heads of Government  Parastatals in the Maritime Sector.

Jamoh said the agreement followed the work of a ministerial committee, stressing that meetings like this are necessary to build synergy and create the right atmosphere for the overall progress of the economy. 

He stated, “We have held the inaugural meeting for improved synergy and we hope to hold it on a monthly basis for the next four months. Due to the proximity of our corporate headquarters to each, a lot of gains will be achieved in a short while without the usual official bureaucracy.”

The Director-General added, “From our discussion and deliberations, we have decided on so many issues that concern national development, overlapping functions, and others.

“We have a committee inaugurated by the ministry of transportation and we have been working for close to a year now. We have now decided on who should take what responsibility and we are going ahead with that.”

He said there was no better time to improve synergy among agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation than now, “When the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying disruptions to business and economy have placed a great deal of responsibility on the maritime sector as a vital support to the economy and key medium for the movement of essential supplies.”

Those who attended the meeting were Executive Secretary of NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello; Jamoh; and Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman.   Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Dr. George Moghalu, and Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), joined via Zoom.

  

MARITIME TRAINING: NAVY, NIMASA TO ALIGN CURRICULA

·        Navy Vital To Achievement of Our Mandate – Jamoh

Plans are at an advanced stage to harmonise the training procedures of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy for the improved safety and security of the country’s maritime space. This was revealed in Lagos, when the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, played host to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Fredrick Ogu, at the Agency’s headquarters.

L-R: Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Victor Ochei, Executive Director, Finance & Administration, NIMASA, Hon. Chudi Offodile, Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Admiral Fredrick Ogu and Executive Director Operations, NIMASA, Mr. Shehu Ahmed during a visit by the FOC to the Agency recently.

Jamoh pointed out that a large chunk of the Agency’s budget went into the training of its workforce, adding that other stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, also benefit from training programmes facilitated by NIMASA in the overall interest of the maritime sector. He said NIMASA would also look in the direction of naval facilities and how to harmonise the training guidelines to meet the standards required by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for certification.

“NIMASA invests so much in the training of her workforce,” Jamoh stated, adding, “Aside that, we have what we call non-staff educational assistance, which is also geared towards building capacity for the maritime sector, apart from our workforce. This we have also done by including navy personnel whenever the opportunity and the need arise. In this wise, we are open to approval of training facilities across the country as long as they meet IMO’s training standards.”

Jamoh said NIMASA was not an armed organisation and could not achieve its mandate without the Nigerian Navy. He said the Navy/NIMASA relationship had come a long way, and predated the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that birthed the Maritime Guard Command, manned by naval officers and domiciled in the Agency.

The DG spoke on the Deep Blue Project, also known as the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, which aims to comprehensively tackle insecurity on Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Gulf of Guinea. He said, “Most of our Deep Blue Project assets are already in the country and most of these assets, like the Special Mission Vessels and aircraft, would be manned and commanded by the officers of the Nigerian Navy. What is causing a little delay in the deployment is the training component because some of these trainings would be done outside the shores of the country. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic there is a little delay in the training programme.” 

Earlier in his comments, Ogu, who was appointed FOC, Naval Training Command, in June, reiterated the need for NIMASA and the Navy to work together closely in training and on other fronts. He emphasised NIMASA’s role in the certification of most maritime-related training programmes.

“I know we have an existing MoU with NIMASA, which makes it easier for us to relate on many fronts,” Ogu said. “The importance of NIMASA to our trainings cannot be overstated. They are the ones who issue certificates for our basic mandatory and survival at sea trainings. So there is need for us to harmonise our training methods to further enhance our capacity,” he added.

The FOC also disclosed that the Navy had training facilities that were available to both civilians and military personnel. He urged Nigerians willing to take up a career in the maritime sector to take advantage of the naval facilities across the country.