Expert To NIMASA: Deploy N50bn Floating Dock To Rivers, Akwa Ibom For Efficient Utilization

By Abigail Edeigba 

The controversial NIMASA N50bn floating dock, MM DD NIMASA 

Harboursandport.com: Lagos - September 6, 2024: A Maritime expert, Agassi Peters Jonathan, has charged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to deployed it's N50 billion floating dock, MM DD NIMASA rotting away on Lagos waters to Akwa Ibom or Rivers State.  

Agassi, who is the Head of Operations at Plus Petro Limited, shared his insights in an exclusive interview with Harboursandport.com, noted that the deployment to either Rivers or Akwa Ibom would save the nation millions of naira being wasted annually on rents and maintenance as the facility.

Agassi also faulted those who conceived the idea of the floating dock for not considering the channel leading to Okerikoko where the vessel was originally selected to host the vessel.

"The people who conceived the idea should have thought about the channel."

He suggested NIMASA's partnership with the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA is the best option for maximizing the economic and financial potentials of the floating dock.

However, he noted that since the partnership seems not to be working, other alternatives should be considered. 

Asked what he would do if he had the powers to make decision on deployment of the facility, he said "I will consider other locations such as Port Harcourt which serves as a base for many oil companies. I'm sure you'll get an area there where you can take the dock to; giving the fact that most of these oil companies use Port Harcourt as their base."

Jonathan also suggested Akwa Ibom as another potential location, citing the need to find a suitable area along the axis. "You can look for a place around Akwa Ibom axis where it can also be utilized," he noted.