for Trans., Sen. Gbemisola R. Saraki and Chairman,
House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education
and Admin., Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu during a tour of
deep blue assets at the Nigerian Maritime Resource
Development Centre (NMRDC), Kirikiri Lagos
By Aisha Saleh
The Honourable Minister of State for Transportation, Senator Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki has embarked on a tour of facilities and assets of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
A press release signed by the Assistant Director, Public Relations of the Agency, Mr Edward Osage revealed that assets inspected by the minister included the NIMASA Command, Control and Computer Centre (C4i), the NIMASA Modular Floating Dockyard, the NIMASA E-library and Vessels belonging to the Agency undergoing dry docking at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island.
While expressing delight at the equipment and assets of NIMASA, the minister stated that NIMASA’s achievement underscores the importance the Federal Government attaches to combating maritime crimes and ensuring zero tolerance for illegal activities on the nation’s territorial waters.
“For over 28 years, we have been in the press for the wrong reasons, over the piracy issues at the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). We were there when Mr. President commissioned the DEEP BLUE PROJECT last year and within that short frame of time, we have broken the jinx, and for the last five months zero attacks, so I think that says it all for my assessment of NIMASA”, Senator Saraki said, stressing need to sustain the momentum to ensure Nigeria remains attractive to investors.
“The most important thing now is that we don’t rest on our oars. The Free Trade Agreement and how it affects Nigeria is our focus. We hope to create an enabling environment to be very attractive and highly competitive when compared to neighbouring countries and collaboration amongst all maritime Agencies of Government in terms of information gathering and sharing is key in achieving this”, she said.
Admiral AZ Gambo; Hon. Min. of State for Transportation,
Sen. Gbemisola R. Saraki and MD, National Inland Waterways
Authority (NIWA) Dr. George Moghalu during a facility tour by
the Honourable Minister at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
On his part, the Director-General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh disclosed that the focus of the Agency is sustaining the achievements in recent times, adding that the plans are in three categories of short medium and long term.
“Our focus now is to sustain the tempo. We are very optimistic that the clamour for the removal of war risk insurance premium on Nigerian bound cargos will soon yield positive results. The international community desires sustainability of the war on piracy and maritime crimes in Nigeria. The good thing is that they are part and parcel of our processes and procedures.
“We have the Nigeria Join Industry Working Group where all stakeholders including the INTERTANKO, the largest owners of tankers in the world, the INTERCARGO, the largest owners of Cargos in the world and the major oil marketing companies are meeting regularly, discussing developments in the Nigerian Maritime industry. We have also strengthened our collaboration with the Nigerian Navy. The SHADE Gulf of Guinea is another platform where inter-regional organizations such as the ICC and the European Union foster collaboration to secure the Gulf of Guinea”, Jamoh remarked.