As the APC led administration of President Mohammadu Buhari prepares for hand over, the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Engr Mua’zu Jaji Sambo has led other dignitaries in the Maritime and transportation sector in the country to commission refurbished Enforcement Boats and other projects to enhance the operations of the Deep Blue Sea project of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The projects, which according to the minister are veritable assets for NIMASA’s optimal operations includes 5 operational patrol boats, 4 x 35 capacity staff Ferries, Search and Rescue Clinic, Administrative building all at the at the NIMASA Resource Centre, kirikiri. Other projects also commissioned same day are Staff Clinic at Azare Crescent and ground breaking of Skill Acquisition Centre at Randle Road Apapa.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR in his opening remarks at the occasion held on Sunday at the NIMASA Resource Centre in Kirikiri, Lagos finally broke his silence over states of infrastructures of the agency on his assumption of office three years ago, he revealed that he did not inherit a single operational patrol boat or vessel that should have aided the core functions of the agency which is to ensure safety and security on the nation’s maritime domain, perform port state and flag regulation functions, enhance shipping development as well as building capacity, among several others.
He however, disclosed that there were few non-functional patrol vessels, some of which were inherited from the NIMASA-Global West Vessel partnership, which his management has refurbished through a direct labour operations as the boats were refurbished at the Naval dockyard.
The NIMASA DG who insists that in addition to drastically reducing piracy not only in Nigeria but also across the Gulf of Guinea through the Integrated National Waterways Security also called the Deep Blue Security Project said the agency is equally focused on ensuring peace and tranquility within its inland waters. In his word, “We have from the very beginning of our administration reckoned that attaining a Blue Economy is pivotal to the growth and development of the nation. It was equally important that while we had our vision set on achieving something great, we simultaneously took
cognisance of the damaging impact that piracy, kidnapping of seafarers, smuggling, illegal oil bunkering, robbery at sea and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing has had on our maritime profile.
“The Gulf of Guinea which Nigeria is a major stakeholder was notorious for piratical attacks and used to be referred to as the ‘world’s hotspot’ for piracy. The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2634 which called for a crackdown on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
“By the year 2022, cases of piracy and other maritime crime in the Gulf of Guinea had significantly reduced as only about 3 cases of piracy were recorded while none of the cases was attributable to Nigeria. The International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Center (IMB PRC) regarded this as a positive trend. This equally meant that the year 2022 was a successful year for Nigeria in the fight against piracy and other maritime crime and same should be regarded as a milestone for the Buhari-led administration. The success of 2022 can only be credited to the tremendous effort of the Federal Government in terms of provision of infrastructures which is best enveloped as the Deep Blue Project”,
He thanked President Muhammadu, Minister of Transport, Mu’azu Sambo, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Dr. Magdalene Ajani and the maritime committees of the 9th National Assembly as well as members of staff of the agency for their support and cooperation without which these achievements would not have been possible.
In her goodwill message at the occasion, Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education & Administration, Lynda Ikpeazu, commended NIMASA management for its focus and commitment.
While lamenting the lack of maintenance culture in Nigeria, she charged the agency and staff to judiciously make use of the assets being commissioned today.
The honourable Minister of Transport, Engr. Mua’zu Jaji Sambo, in his keynote address applauded the present NIMASA management, Board of the Agency, members of Staff, the Permanent Secretary and Directors in the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the contractors for the successful delivery of these projects
He stated that the platforms will give NIMASA the much-needed tools required to function as a Maritime Administration in line with the protocols and conventions of the International Maritime Organization and International Labour Organization to which NINASA represents Nigeria as its contracting government.
He further stated that the completion of these projects by NIMASA shows the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Nigerian waters and the newly renovated Administrative block will create a conducive work environment, thereby increasing the productivity of the staff, the Search and Rescue Clinics will enable the agency to fulfil its obligations to seafarers and the general public by providing top-notch medical care facilities, and the newly acquired Communication Gadgets will enable the agency’s enforcement and search and rescue operators communicate in real-time without any hindrance or interference while conducting their operations at sea.
The minister reinstated his ministry’s commitment in supporting NIMASA and other agencies and departments under the ministry of transport in every laudable project. He said, “As the supervisory Ministry, we will continue to give our support to NIMASA as she continues down this commendable path to ensuring the growth of maritime in Nigeria, we commit ourselves to the supervisory role that would create enabling operational regimes for the Agencies and Departments under the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
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