Harboursandport.com: Lagos - Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo has called for synergy amongst the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) as well as Nigerian Armed forces towards ensuring the success of the Deep Blue Project is a success.
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| The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo (2nd left); Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye (2nd right); Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani (right) and Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh during a working visit by the Minister to the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos. |
The minister,
who made this known in Lagos when he paid a
working visit to the headquarters of the Agency in Lagos, alongside the
Minister of State, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr.
Magdalene Ajani, stressed the importance of the Deep Blue Project to the nation’s
economy.
Sambo who commended the NIMASA management for its
capacity development initiative in the Nigerian maritime sector, also applauded
the Agency for remaining focused on the delivery of its mandate, noting that
the Agency has a better image than what it was ten years ago.
Speaking on the CVFF, he said “If
there is a jinx about the CVFF, I am going to break it by getting it disbursed
to deserving Nigerians. If these funds are disbursed, the President Muhammadu
Buhari administration and the Federal Ministry of Transportation will take
credit, while it remains a legacy in your administration”, the Minister said.
“NIMASA of today have come a
long way from the NIMASA I knew ten years ago. I commend the entire Management
and Staff of the Agency for raising the bar, it is a symbol of teamwork. I am
impressed with the customer experience center and your efforts to attract young
Nigerians into the maritime sector via various capacity development projects including
the essay competition for secondary school students.”
The minister called for more synergistic relationship
between NIMASA and other parastatals under the supervision of the Ministry, in
addition to the Nigerian Navy and members of the Nigerian Armed forces towards
ensuring the success of the Deep Blue Project is a success.
On his part, the Director-General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh
thanked the Minister for his dynamic leadership in steering the affairs of the
Ministry, while also assuring that the Agency remains committed to actualizing
its mandate as stipulated in the four enabling Acts of the
National assembly for a robust and attractive maritime sector in Nigeria.
He further used the opportunity to intimate the Minister
on some of the activities of the Agency in realizing a robust maritime sector
which includes; obtaining approval for physical and monetary
incentives for ship owners to purchase brand new vessels at zero duty, while
also assisting them get foreign exchange at the Central Bank of Nigeria rate
respectively. The move according to the DG is to help phase out old and rickety
vessels from the nation’s waterways and encourage more participation in the
Nigerian shipping industry.
He informed the Minister that under the Deep Blue
Project, 600 Special Forces from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air
Force, Department of State Security, among others are undergoing training for
special skills to ensure effective implementation of the Project. The intent is
to ensure that the nation’s waterways remain safe from all forms of
criminalities.
Jamoh told the Minister that under the Nigerian Seafarers
Development Programme, NSDP scheme over 2,000 Nigerians have undergone
training, out of which about 800 are actively engaged on various ships, with a
huge number of them working on the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG
ships. He added that NIMASA is developing a National Ship Building and
Infrastructure Development Strategy, aimed at bridging the gap of capacity
building for trained seafarers.
Other achievements listed include but are not
limited to; Enhanced Maritime Safety administration through effective
Ports and Flag states inspection on foreign and Nigerian flagged vessels,
Enforcement of safety regulations on barges and tug boats through Operation Sting Ray,
Reactivation of online seafarers Certificate of Competency verification
platform, and commenced activities towards ensuring GHG emission
reduction in the maritime sector with an emphasis on achieving 0.5% Sulphur
Oxide (SO2) in Bunker fuel oil.
The Minister also undertook a tour of the NIMASA Maritime
Stakeholders experience Contact Center MSECC. The 24-hour Center serves as
a platform for both internal and external stakeholders to resolve any issue
within the stipulated 24 hours.
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