Targets N1b annual Revenue from Floating Dock

Declares Zero Tolerance for Maritime Insecurity

Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Director General, NIMASA

Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has reiterated his resolve to eliminate acts of criminality perpetrated mostly by foreigners encroaching on Nigerian waters.

The Director General spoke at a media parley with select journalists to look at developments and clarify issues affecting maritime operations in Nigeria and Safety and Security issues in the Gulf of Guinea.

Unfolding his operational three point agenda of Safety, Security and Shipping Development to operationalize and galvanize NIMASA’s Administrative mandate in Nigeria’s maritime Sector, Jamoh emphasized that government being a continuum and a gamut of objectives, NIMASA under him will take advantage of past experiences, recognize the challenges and move ahead with informed decisions based on current realities.

According to the DG, “NIMASA is very much aware of what the issues are. The dearth of platforms is part of the reasons for security issues we are having. We have discovered that there are criminal elements from other countries who come to carry out illegal activities on Nigerian waters.

Apart from such illegal activities, they also engage in crimes in collusion with their partners. We have declared a zero tolerance for maritime insecurity and fortunately for us, we have the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences, SPOMO, Act which was enacted specifically to deal with maritime crimes.

In addition to the SPOMO Act, Jamoh informed that hundreds of personnel have been selected from the Navy, Army and Police which have been trained on maritime security offshore and ashore.

He also disclosed that NIMASA’s C4i, the Naval Falcon Eye and NPA’s C3i maritime security domain are being synchronized for greater operational effectiveness and national good/maritime safety.

While lamenting the duplication/overlapping functions of some government agencies, Jamoh said the time has come to move away from such conflicting roles and focus on the overriding national interest which takes priority.

“We have the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, GMDSS, fully operational and our Deep Blue project equipment and facilities are 80% ready while we expect the remaining components to arrive the country soon, The Intervention vessels, The Special Mission Crafts and others are fully on ground and ready to go” Jamoh said.

Speaking on the Floating Dock, the Team NIMASA Captain, said the facility could earn over a billion annual revenue when fully operational as MOu have been entered into with International Oil Companies, IOCs including NNPC and its subsidiaries for docking of their vessels at the NIMASA Floating Dock for repairs and maintenance purposes.

He also said the Floating which shall be operated under a Public Private Sector Partnership, PPP, in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, would be available for the Training of Nigerian Cadets in Maritime Academies in courses such as Electrical and Mechanical engineering for practicals.

He expressed hope this this will enhance their trainings and career development for the good of the country.

Jamoh also revealed that the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF which has been scheduled and rescheduled for disbursement could be disbursed by October this year barring any unforeseen developments.

Training of Seafarers under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme, NSDP is another of many issues which Dr. Jamoh addressed.

“Notwithstanding that over 3, 000 Cadets have been trained under the programme, we are doing a review and taking a holistic look at the programme to see what needs to be done going forward” Jamoh disclosed.

Recall that within three months of Jamoh’s appointment as Director General of NIMASA, close to thirty pirates and one suspicious vessel have been arrested and handed over for prosecution.

This feat attracted accolades from stakeholders and a letter of commendation by the International Maritime Organization, IMO.

Hopes are high that NIMASA is on course to deliver on its mandate in maritime administration.