The visit of the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and his management team to the eastern zonal offices has revealed that about $3 billion was lost in three years to the non-implementation of the Sea Protection Levy (SPL), reports Maritime Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) lost $2,950,151,671.14 in three years through non implementation of the Sea Protection Levy (SPL) by past managements. This, The Nation learnt, was between 2013 and 2015.
The discovery, it was gathered, was made when its Director-Gneral (DG), Dr Dakuku Peterside, and the management team visited the Eastern zone of the agency. The SPL regime came into force in 2012.
Peterside and his team, according to sources, were shocked when the revelation was made to them in Port Harcourt.
Under the regime, NIMASA is to collect N1,500 or $9.38 per cubic metre of pipeline from high-water mark to termination point offshore.
The revenue that was supposed to accrue to the agency from the levy, between 2013 and 2015, according to sources, was N471,772,655,009 or $2,950,151,671. It was also discovered that other avenues that could have boosted the agency’s revenue profile were not explored.
For instance, the agency is generating $15 million annually from vessels on offshore platforms and pipelines in the zone. The visit, according to sources, however, revealed that the agency could have generated as much as $900 million from the same platforms annually, if necessary requirements were met.
In the Eastern zone, a source told The Nation, NIMASA generates $11 million annually from vessels on rotations in Cabotage trade when it has the potential of generating $17 milliom annually.
This amount, it was gathered, excluded millions of dollar the agency could have raked in from stevedoring charges on offshore operations and the Single Window Entry (SWE) platform. Peterside, it was gathered, has directed NIMASA to come forward with the core responsibilities of the zones, articulate uniform reporting template, establish a formidable joint enforcement team and a watertight surveillance system. It was also learnt that the DG directed the automation of workflow, distribution of ships surveillance information from the operation room to various units and the provision of efficient work environment for members of staff to boost revenue.
Challenges
During the visit, Peterside, it was gathered, discovered that the agency did not have enough platforms for enforcement, had weak and insufficient operational vehicles, inadequate personal protective equipment for members of staff, usually experience delay in issuance of debit note from the head office and inadequate corporate communication and information communication technology (ICT).
Other identified challenges include:, non training of members of staff on relevant fields both in local and foreign operations, lack of equipment for drills and emergency response activities, non-availability of marine pollution laboratory or a NIMASA approved and certified private laboratory, delay in submission of completed bio-data forms, lack of functional on-line authentication portal for verification of seafarers’ certificate of competencies, discharge book and medical certificate fitness. Others were non connection of Onne port to national grid, inadequate working tools such as computers and photo copy machines and inadequate office accommodation. Peterside has since promised to address and give priority attention them to boost efficiency.
Agony of casual drivers
Peterside discovered that five drivers: David Unapec, Sunday Martins, Solomon Achuku, Sunday Adharjo, and Asuquo Edet have served the agency as casual workers for between 11 and 14 years.
Peterside, apart from commending the affected drivers and identifying with their plight, directed the management to look for a way to employ those that have served the agency without blemish, a source said.
Personnel
Addressing the members of staff at the zonal headquarters, Peterside promised to expand their scope of authority, adding that he would deploy more workers to the zonal and port offices of the agency to promote efficiency and generate more revenue.
Investigations revealed that the Zonal Head Office would need additional 12 hands, Port Harcourt six, Onne Port 15, Calabar 15, Eket four, Oron four, Yenagoa three and Bonny 10.
The Eastern zone, it was gathered, needed additional 69 to its 234 personnel to work effectively.
Visit to Naval base
At the Naval in Sapele, the Zonal Co-ordinator, Capt. Kunle Olayiwola, conducted the team round the abandoned floating dock, containers, Werklust caterpillars, oil pipes, three barges and other equipment at the base.
He said the agency would find a lasting solution to the environmental challenges posed by the abandoned equipment.
Peterside commended the professionalism of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army and Navy in combating piracy and insecurity on the waterways and sought their support in addressing the challenges posed by operators of illegal jetties and small crafts within the zone.
Visit to Olu of Warri
During his visit to the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli Emiko, the traditional ruler appealed to Peterside to facilitate the effective utilisation of Warri and Koko Ports with a view to reviving economic activities in the areas.
The Olu expressed confidence in the ability of the to return the old glory of the two ports.
At zonal offices
Addressing workers at the zone, Peterside expressed his determination to strengthen the zonal offices by devolving more power to the zones, granting them more autonomy and authority to handle statutory mandate without much recourse to the head office.
Many officers of the agency, he said, would be moved to zonal and port offices to boost operation, enforcement and compliance, stating that the zones would be made the agency’s centre of activities. While bemoaning the poor state of some of the offices he visited, he commended the members of staff of the Yenagoa office for discharging their duties creditably.
He directed them to redouble their efforts and ensure that they register all small crafts operating on the nation’s territorial waters to stop their illegal activities. He advised all operators of small crafts to register with NIMASA or face sanctions.
The DG also directed the staff to develop zero tolerance for corruption, compromise and embark on effective enforcement of their laws to boost security and generate more revenue to the Federal Government.
His meeting with stakeholders
During the stakeholders meeting in Portharcourt, the DG decried incessant militancy and restiveness in the region and called on the restive youths to embrace peace.
He bemoaned the high level of insecurity in the region, which he said, had scared genuine investors away. While acknowledging that some of the demands of the agitators were germane, he solicited the support of opinion leaders and elders to bring peace and development to the region
Sea time training
On sea time training for Nigerian cadets, Peterside said the Agency was committed to growing human capacity in the industry and has already devised a number of initiatives where the cadets of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) would get sea time experience to enable them get gainful employment. Peterside highlighted areas of interest to include the flouting of cabotage law, negative impact to the environment from oil exploration activities, non payment of statutory levies due to the government and inadequate information sharing.
On crewing agents and shipping companies
Peterside has directed the enforcement officers at the zones to go after all crewing agents and shipping companies operating illegally in the country. He said only approved crewing agencies have the right to engage in seafarers recruitment. He said recruitment activities outside the approved authority were illegal and must be stopped.
NIMASA, he said, would sanction any company or individual who violated the law. NIMASA, as the flag state, according to Peterside, would no longer tolerate the violation of the Cabotage and other extant laws by the shipping companies, oil companies, terminal operators, shipping and crewing agents operating on the nation’s territorial waters.
Achievement
Based on the policy thrust of the current management of the agency, investigation revealed that detention of ships operating in the Eastern zone has reduced, compliance level has increased based on sentitisation programmes organised by the agency, the rate of water pollution in the zone is now minimal. There is relative industrial peace and security in the port environment based on meetings and consultations with labour and other stakeholders, a source said.
