Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has reiterated that NIMASA remain fully committed to maximum development of Nigeria’s maritime industry for the good of country and citizens.
Speaking at a world press conference in Lagos, He also disclosed that the modular floating dockyard acquired by the agency will save the federal government $100 million annually and $1 billion in ten years.

This he said, would be a direct saving from the dry docking of vessels operating in Nigeria, which he stated are mostly done outside the country at the moment.
Dakuku added that it was the desire of NIMASA to partner the private sector to run the dockyard.
Also, Dakuku announced that the agency plans to introduce Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) to enable Nigerians lift the country’s crude oil.
According to Dakuku, ‘affreightment’ of Nigerian cargo, especially crude oil lifting, is the prevalent Free On Board (FOB) trade term. As you know, Nigeria as a nation has no control in the distribution of its crude oil with respect to carriage, insurance and other ancillary services. Under a CIF arrangement, the tide would change in favour of our indigenous operators. Therefore, we are joining forces with well-meaning Nigerians to move for the change of trade term from FOB to CIF to reasonably involve our indigenous operators in Nigerian cargo affreightment.”
This, he added, would not only give distribution control of the country’s hydrocarbon resources to Nigerians, “but would also enable us to empower our people through cargo lifting and meaningful participation in the entire value chain of our export goods. As you are aware, CIF will enable Nigerians participate in cargo lifting, cargo insurance, create job for our teeming cadets and other ancillary economic and security derivatives.
Dakuku also assured that NIMASA working very seriously at providing sea time for Nigerian cadet while the Agency is consciously working at increasing local shipping capacity in the country.
In his words “Conscious of our mandate-to promote the development of indigenous commercial shipping in international and coastal shipping trade-we are poised, more than ever, to achieving this obligation. We understand it requires a great deal of capacity building, especially human, infrastructural and tonnage capacities of our indigenous shipping operators”.
On Safety and Security, the NIMASA boss stated that NIMASA has commenced constant, 247 surveillance of Nigeria waters while collaboration with the Navy, Army, Air force and Police are being strengthened to ensure the safety of ships and crew on Nigerian waters.