FG Has Repositioned NIMASA For Economic Growth – SGF
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the federal government has repositioned the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for economic growth.
As a result, he said the Nigerian maritime industry had become more attractive to foreign investors under the watch of the current government.
Mustapha, according to a statement yesterday by NIMASA’s Head of Corporate Communications, Isichei Osamgbi, said this at the NIMASA Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.
The SGF was said to have been represented by the Minister of Budget, Senator Udo Udoma.
He said, “The DG and his team and the board are doing well in NIMASA. They have transformed the organisation. I will also like to congratulate the Minister of Transportation because it is through his guidance and supervision that all these transformations have taken place. He is an action man, somebody that makes things happen.”
In his address, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said the maritime industry remained the backbone of international trade and that the Nigerian maritime sector had made remarkable achievements in the last two years. According to him, our principal mandate is to restructure, reposition, reorganise and reform NIMASA and make it a foremost Maritime Administration in Africa.
“This is because we have no reason not to be number one in Africa.
“Out of every 100 cargo heading to Africa, 65 would come to Nigeria and in this regard, we must ensure that our maritime sector remains vibrant,’’ Peterside said.
The director-general said that in spite of the minor challenges that came along with every change agenda, “the management of the agency with the support of the board is committed to make a difference’’.
Peterside said that the management would ensure that “NIMASA is repositioned to revitalise the economic-enhancing activities of the maritime sector’’.
According to him, NIMASA is charged with the responsibility of advancing maritime sector by regulating shipping, promoting indigenous participation in shipping and ensuring that the ocean is clean and safe for shipping activities.
“The implications of these mandates are that, we have responsibilities for maritime safety and security; seafarers’ standards; and marine environment management.
“We also have responsibility for search and rescue, ship registration and an added responsibility for the Cabotage Act that was passed in 2003,” he said.
The director-general said that to effectively carry out the mandates of the agency, the NIMASA workforce needed motivation.
He said that NIMASA after its establishment, was still working under the defunct structures of the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) and the National Maritime Authority (NMA) that were merged to form the agency in 2007, which was due for a change.
The director-general said that this led the present management to adopt a Medium- Term Strategic Plan which had aided steps to repositioning the agency for better service delivery.
