Repositioning the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) with a view to making it a leading maritime administration in Africa and optimizing its revenue generation profile for the benefit of the nation remains the focus of its current management.

This position was disclosed in Port Harcourt by the Director General of the agency, Dakuku Peterside, during live radio phone-in program in different radio stations in the city on Monday, August 13, 2018.

According to the NIMASA boss, the transformation of the Agency has been phenomenal in terms of repositioning and revenue generation, announcing that NIMASA was among the top five agencies currently contributing to the coffers of the Federal Government.

Peterside, who is also the Chairman, Association of Africa Maritime Administrations (AAMA), stressed that the board and entire management of the Agency were committed to ensuring that it achieves its core mandate of advancing Nigeria’s global maritime goals.

He noted that, so far, NIMASA’s efforts have attracted commendations from various quarters including the Federal Executive Council who were fully committed to the new drive of the country’s foremost maritime administration, noting, however, that it would not relent in its efforts at making Nigeria a leading maritime nation.

“We are putting a lot of structures in place to ensure the Agency remains on a sound footing and our efforts have attracted commendation from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and stakeholders within and outside the maritime sector”.

“We can only get better in our determination to make the Agency perform the functions for which it was set up and make it the leading maritime administration in Africa. This is why we are continuously working hard and poised to making Nigerians reap the benefits of the sector,” he said.

Peterside, who commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the maritime sector by providing the needed support to implement reforms, policies and programmes that have had tremendous positive impact on the maritime industry, stated that NIMASA was working at deepening its collaboration with relevant security agencies to ensure the protection of Nigeria’s waterways and, by extension, the Gulf of Guinea.

On the recent boat mishaps around the country and Rivers State in particular, he expressed sadness over the incidents but was quick to add that NIMASA would work with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to promote safety and safer ways of water transportation. He then promised to personally donate 1,000 life jackets to jetty operators in Rivers State as a way of promoting safety consciousness.

It should be noted that the Agency recently reinforced its commitment to safety of lives and properties in the maritime sector and this was evident by the shutting down of some facilities by the agency for not conforming to the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

Credits: Spherewatch.com