Is the DG a Square Peg in a Square Hole?

Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, Director General, NIMASA

In all climes, irrespective of time zone, topography, colour/creed, a change of government causes distruptions and displacements as any new helmsman would of necessity reposition men and make deployments in order to achieve his administrative objectives.

As the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, settles down to work, Maritime Nigeria believes Jamoh has what it takes to make NIMASA and enviable Agency.

Moving forward, the DG should carry out internal reorganization and Reconciliation within NIMASA-strategic positions must be manned by men and women with the requisite skills/competences.

The harmonious spirit of the handover should permeate the Agency and be consolidated on for the good of the industry and country.

Emphasis and focus should be on core functions of the Agency not programs and events that takes nobody nowhere.

What are other Maritime Administrations doing within and outside Africa? This is a challenge Jamoh cannot ignore.

As an administrator, the new DG knows the importance of competence, knowledge, skill and professionalism. His major priority should be to deliver on the job.

Getting Nigeria back on category C of the IMO next year starts now. The politicians have tried and failed. Maritime professionals and journalists should be engaged to deliver on this challenge. Yes we can and we will. Going to London to make up the numbers has done Nigeria no good.

Zonal offices of the Agency should be strengthened. The devolution of power talked about should be implemented.

The new DG is not a politician but a technocrat. Working as such should make a huge difference.

As an old timer in Nigeria’s marime Industry, Jamoh is in very familiar terrain. He has seen, heard, felt, read, written and talked about Maritime development within and outside the country. This is the time to walk the talk.

Haven been part of the the Agency from inception, Jamoh is a fitting square peg in a square hole. What is it that he does not know from Operations/ISPS Code enforcement/implementation, Cabotage/Shipping development, Admin/Finance, Maritime Labour and or Maritime Education and Training?

Jamoh has been in the thick and thin periods of NIMASA. He understands the politics within and from afar quarters.

Members of the NASS are to him “familiar foes”, friction is thus from inception of his administration averted. He is not a stranger to the groups and associations/stakeholders within the industry. Firmness, fairness and being just could be the deciding and determining factors if adopted as guiding principles of the Jamoh administration.

Politics of the CVFF could be beyond the DG but he has to tread carefully as pressure mounts for disbursement of the fund.

Already, Jamoh set the tone  his administration when he said on assuming office:

“I must acknowledge the great strides we have made in the area of maritime safety and security, particularly with the Deep Blue Project and ensuring the enactment of the antipiracy law. Our determination to enthrone a worthy Cabotage regime is legendary. And so are the regulatory activities which saw Nigeria emerging tops in Port and Flag State Control in West and Central Africa.

“I can assure you that we will consolidate on these efforts and take them further, as we continue to pursue the ideals of a viable Blue Economy for our country.  I know people are already expecting to hear about what we will be doing in terms of policy direction and initiative.

As a man who is home with the core maritime media, this should be a new refreshing era as the journey to a repositioned maritime industry that could fund Nigeria’s annual budget heralds under Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh.