NIMASA PROJECTS: Transportation Minister Sambo Commissioned, 5 New Patrol/Security Boats, Administrative Building-Others

•Persistency pays-Says-Jamoh

By Silas Onuoha

The Honorable Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, on Sunday commissioned 5 New Patrol/Security Boats, 5 Refurbished Search and Rescue/Pollution Control Boats, an Administrative Building, Search and Rescue Clinic. Sambo described the development as reaffirming the nation’s commitment to shipping.

In his keynote address, the Honorable Minister informed that, the new facilities would have positive impacts on the agency and the entire blue economy of Nigeria especially as the nation seeks more vibrant ways of diversifying its economy.

“Today’s ceremony serves to further reinforce our commitment, as the projects to be commissioned are directly tied to the mission of NIMASA which is to achieve and sustain safe, secure shipping, cleaner oceans and enhanced maritime capacity in line with the best global practices towards Nigeria’s economic development.”

“To be commissioned here today are Five (5) state-of-the-art Enforcement Platforms that will ensure strict compliance and adherence with the extant laws governing the operations of our Maritime Domain. These 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 NIMASA represents Nigeria as its contracting government.

“Additionally, we shall be commissioning 4 Staff Ferries. These Ferries were acquired to increase the overall efficiency and productivity of the staff of the Agency, by creating a more conducive means of transportation to and from official assignments, thereby bypassing the hassles that are associated with the operational terrain of the Ports,”Sambo said.

Speaking earlier NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, said that the agency has been persistent and relentless in the fight against maritime crime and insecurity while also striving at making the nation’s waterways and general maritime ecosystem safe.

His words.
“Permit me to start by asserting that truly, persistency pays. The Late Maya Angelou is credited to have said that “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated”. It is bearing this notion in mind that has over the past four years fuelled our determination as an agency at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and as a nation in its entirety, to be persistent and relentless in the fight against maritime crime and insecurity while also striving at making our waterways and general maritime ecosystem safe.

“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 cognizance 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.

He added.”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,” the DG said.

Going further Jamoh informed.”The inclusion of the Security/Patrol boats along with the Search and Rescue/Pollution control boats to the Deep Blue Project assets are particularly with intent to intensify the internal security of the waterways with the inclusion of the Pollution control boats taking into cognizance the recent proliferation of oil theft.

“The Search and Rescue clinic has also become quite important as cases of seafarers who experience attack need emergency medical attention and we have to be prompt so as to ensure their safety and survival.

“The Search and Rescue Clinic is manned by specially skilled medical personnel and same gives us the confidence with regards to guaranteeing the survival.

“The administrative building on the other hand is built with intent to improve the service delivery of NIMASA for efficient shipping activities particularly as NIMASA is targeting an improved ship registry.”

Dr. Jamoh also disclosed that the agency named some new boats after President Muhammadu Buhari; former Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi; former Acting Minister of Transportation, Senator Gbemi Saraki; the present Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo; Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transportation, Dr. Magdalene Ajani; and Late Otunba Kunle Folarin.
In a swift response the Honorable Minister, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, directed that one of the new boats, named after him, is renamed after the Chairperson, House Committee on Nigerian Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Tolu Odebiyi expressed delight at the accomplishments by NIMASA and the Transport Ministry, especially on the additional assets to enhance the security of the nation’s maritime domain.

On his part,the Chairman, House Committee on Nigerian Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu emphasized on the need to prioritize the management and judicious use of the assets, adding that the 9th Assembly is proud of the accomplishments in the maritime industry in recent years. Hon. Ikpeazu commended the agency for honouring Late Otunba Kunle Folarin and the plans to also honour Late Barr. (Mrs.) Margaret Orakwusi.