“We must commend the leading role NIMASA has played”-Capt Brian Lisko

Call it an endorsement and you are on point as the  United States Coast Guard, USCG, through Captain Brian Lisko of the US Department of State has commended the efforts of the Nigerian Government to suppress criminality in Nigeria’s maritime domain and by extension the Gulf of Guinea.

TEAM NIMASA: R-L: Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Victor Ochei; Executive Director, Operations NIMASA, Mr. Shehu Ahmed; DG NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR ;Head of Delegation from the joint United States Coast Guard( USCG)/Department of State Team, Capt. Brian Lisko (USCG, Rtd) and Executive Director, Admin and Human Resources, Mr. Chudi Offodile during the visit by the USCG and US Department of State to the NIMASA headquarters in Lagos.

Coming on the heels of the nomination of the management team of NIMASA as Distinguished Maritime Personalities, DMPs by Maritime Nigeria, the expression of faith and affirmation of our conviction further buoys our resolve to stay true and positive always as a testament of truth.

Capt. Brian Lisko who is on a fact finding mission to Nigeria’s maritime industry,  also commended NIMASA for the role it played and continues to play in achieving a well coordinated regional safety strategy which has culminated in improved safety in the Gulf of Guinea.

Capt Lisko called for improved collaboration between NIMASA and relevant Agencies to maintain and sustain the momentum of recent success which have resulted in recording one year of piracy free Nigerian waters.

In Lisko’s words “We must commend the leading role which NIMASA has played in reducing piracy in the region through the deployment of its Deep Blue Project as well as its partnership with other maritime nations. The international community has taken note of this and we wish to encourage you to keep it up. We propose that a US Coast Guard maritime adviser be deployed to Lagos with the consent of relevant authorities, with that person reporting back to the Coast Guard and advising on deployment of technical experts and tools to assist NIMASA’s efforts”.

The USCG chief disclosed that ultimate goal of the US Coast Guard is to support its partners by working hand in hand in the area of Port State Control and Maritime Administration.

“As we seek to commence this endeavor, we came to Nigeria to study the maritime stakeholders, among which NIMASA, through its reputation and scope of responsibilities, is foremost on our list”, Capt Lisko said.

In his response, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, noted that the USCG had visited the Agency several times in the past as a partner in progress, while calling for greater involvement in areas of technical co-operation and joint exercises.

According to Dr. Jamoh, “I would like to re-iterate the Agency’s appreciation for all the support from the United States over the years. I have to say that your current visit is quite timely as it comes at a time when the country is attempting to diversify towards the Blue Economy.”

“I recall that in the past, the USCG had visited Nigeria to conduct assessment tours of the country’s numerous ports and jetties to ascertain the ISPS compliance levels. We welcome a resumption of these visits even as we believe that you will increase your support in terms of technical assistance”, Jamoh said.

Maritime Nigeria is proud to be associated with this development as it tallies with, boosts further and gives credence to our assessment parameters.