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Tag: NIMASA

  • FEC orders probe of past JAMB, NIMASA chiefs

    FEC orders probe of past JAMB, NIMASA chiefs

    Forensic probe of some government agencies has been ordered.

    The exercise is to recover unremitted revenues, according to Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    With Mrs Adeosun were Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina.

    According to her, some of the government agencies suspected to be diverting government revenues will be made to account for the past revenues.

    She said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had been remitting N3 million annually, remitted N5 billion this year alone and disclosed that it had N3 billion more to remit to the government’s purse this year.

    The minister also listed past management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) among the offenders.

    She said: “Secondly, we spoke about revenue generation. The VAIDS Programme is ongoing and we are having quite a positive response in terms of tax compliance.

    “We also reported on the progress made by a number of our agencies some of whom have reported very significant increases in the amount paid into the consolidated revenue fund.

    “Council discussed JAMB, which recorded significant progress and NIMASA as well as others and gave us the charge to really go and look at these agencies, look in some cases the past management of those agencies and see where those agencies were leaking and to encourage agencies that haven’t done so to continue with efficiencies,” she said.

    Asked to disclose the figures expected from the agencies, Mrs Adeosun said: “The highest amount that JAMB has ever remitted to the consolidated revenue fund before this management was N3 million. This year, so far, they have done N5 billion and the Minister of Education reported that they have additional N3 billion that they are ready to remit, which will take this year’s figure alone to N8 billion.

    “Now they have not increased their charges nor their fees. So the question that Council members were asking was that where were all these monies before?

    “So the directive was given that we must call those who were the heads of those agencies and similar ones to account and that is what we intend to do.”

    She added: “It’s a similar story with other agencies and these are the leakages which we are now blocking. These are the monies in the consolidated fund that is now being applied in the projects that really need to get the economy moving. These are the monies that are missing that has led us to the position we are in. It is the grandest looting that this administration action has come in to address.”

    The minister also disclosed that FEC approved for Nigeria to rejoin the African Trade Insurance Agency.

    She said: “This is an agency that is out to provide risk guarantee for private investors coming into Nigeria as well as exporters from Nigeria.

    “It will provide risk guarantees, so instead of projects asking for sovereign guarantees, we will be able to provide that risk mitigation through the African Trade Insurance Agency. Many other countries are already members, so Nigeria will also be joining.

    “This agency has an A rating international and is able to guarantee long term projects. So, what we see as a result of this is that there will be increased level of investments particularly PPP where every often the investors want some guarantee from the government. Instead of the government issuing sovereign guarantee directly, this agency will step in and issue it. It is very similar to MIGA, the Multi-lateral Insurance Guarantee Agency that is owned by the IFC.”

    She went on “My second activity was part of the briefing on the economy and to speak to the fiscal conditions and outlook.

    “As you know, we are on the part way of resetting the economy and adjusting permanently to a sort of lower oil pricing.

    “The recent announcement of the exit from recession we see as statically backed indicator that we are moving in the right direction.

    “We recognised that there is a lot to be done. I briefed the council on various fiscal initiatives that we are pursuing. These include continued fiscal consolidation and cost efficiency, driving cost savings in government; there is still a great need to do so.

    “I have some progress report on the work we have done with payroll where we are still seeing contraction. Every time we put agencies into our automated payroll system we see contraction and we intend to continue with that.

    “So, in summary, the outlook is positive. We did some comparative analysis in June 2014 with oil price of $109, federation allocation was N844 billion and in June 2017 it was down to N318 billion, just to give you an idea  of how much income the country has really lost in the last few years.

    “So, we are adjusting very strongly and we believe if we continue with this trajectory not only will we stay permanently out of recession but, more importantly, we will have a positive and growing economy what works for all Nigerians which is our aim.” she said

    Udoma Udo Udoma said his ministry briefed the Council on the recent 2017 Second Quarterly Report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    He said: “We were encouraged by the GDP growth rates. The report is very encouraging for the government as it shows that we are on the right direction.”

    The Minister of Water Resources disclosed that he briefed FEC on floods and possible threats of flood.

    He said there was no threat of flood in the country.

    The Ministry has observatory units in Niamey and Lokoja, he said, adding: “If there is any indication of significant rise or threat to lives and properties, we will promptly issue warning alerts.

    “For now, there is no cause for alarm. We cannot stop the flood but we can provide early warnings.”

  • NIMASA deploys world-class equipment to fight piracy

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) would eliminate piracy on the territorial waters, its Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said.

    Peterside told The Nation that the agency was determined to stem the  criminalities on the nation’s  territorial waters by deploying world-class equipment and synergies with other agencies.

    “We have a close working relationship with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) to foster an integrated approach to dealing with the menace.

    “We have also increased surveillance and have deployed world-class with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Ports Authority to monitor our maritime environment,” he said, adding that the country has deployed Maritime Patrol Aircraft’s (MPA) with the Nigerian Air Force as well as other naval assets to patrol and monitor the waterways.

    Peterside noted that as a signatory, Nigeria is committed to complying with all International Maritime Organisation (IMO) regulations to eliminate piracy and criminality on the high seas.

    He said the country was mindful of the risks posed by piracy and maritime crimes to life, navigational safety and the environment, saying this was why NIMASA was strengthening the regional rescue coordination centre in the country as well as enhance information sharing.

    He urged the maritime community to separate criminality from piracy and militancy, reiterating that Nigeria is safe for shipping and other  activities in the sector.

    Peterside appealed to international development agencies to work with Nigeria in resolving maritime insecurity because of its strategic position to the maritime development on the continent given the size of her economy, population and geographical location.

     

  • Delta workers seek active on stalled contracts

    The Niger Delta Volunteer Forces (NDVF) has called on the Federal Government to intervene in the stalled contract for the identification, location, marking and removal of wrecks in the nation’s waters.

    The group, in a statement  by its spokesperson, J. C Gordon, alleged that over three months after NIMASA advertised for expression of interest for the contracts, it has kept mute “over the projects, which would have had  direct impact on the lives of youths in the South South, especially the Niger Delta region surrounded by the country’s waters.”

    According to NDVF, the contract would not only clear the waterways to boost economic activities of the country, it would also create jobs for youths across the South-South, South-East and South-West regions.

    The statement called on the Presidency,  Ministry of Transport, the National Assembly and other relevant government agencies to properly monitor the contract award process to ensure that only qualified who have the interest of the Niger Delta people as well as based in the region, get the final nod to positively impact the lives of the people in the area.

    It argued that the contracts were capable of engaging youths in the region and discourage them from activities inimical to the socio-conomic wellbeing of the nation.

    “We decided to call the attention of relevant authorities to the award of the wreck removal contracts as investigations have revealed monumental underhand dealing, hence the tactical undue delays. We want the Presidency, Ministry of Transport, the procurement agency and the National Assembly to immediately look into this disturbing revelation to avoid complications, and insecurity in the Niger Delta Region,” the statement said.

     

  • NIMASA urges obedience

    Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside has felicitated with Muslim faithful as they celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.

    According to him, the auspicious occasion could not have come at a better time as President Muhammadu Buhari returned recently from London, where he was on medical vacation.

    He noted that the prayers of Nigerians across various religious backgrounds played a prominent role in the quick recovery of President Buhari, who has since resumed work with renewed vigour.

    Calling on Muslims to exhibit the virtues of obedience displayed by Prophet Ibrahim, who submitted to Allah’s command and was ready to sacrifice Ishmael, his son, the NIMASA boss asked them to pray for peace, unity and prosperity of the nation.

  • NIMASA partners DPR on quality fuel for ships

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA) is partnering with the Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR) to ensure that only quality fuel and oil are supplied to vessels operating on the nation’s territorial waters.

    The partnership, the agency said, became necessary to monitor and control Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from ships in line with the Kyoto Protocol and the  International Maritime Organisation ( IMO) sulphur content specification of 0.5mm by the 2020.

    Speaking at a stakeholders forum organised by the agency on MARPOL Annex V1 and other emerging issues on Climate Change in the Nigerian Maritime Sector in Lagos, yesterday, its Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside, said the agency is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Environment to create a detailed action plan that will assist the country to effectively address climate change issues as they affect the maritime industry.

    The MARPOL Annex V1 was first adopted in 1997, to limit the air pollutants contained in ships exhaust gas, including Sulphur Oxides (SOx) and Nitrous Oxides ( NOx) and prohibits deliberate emission of ozone depleting substances ( ODS).

    With the amendment to MARPOL Annex V1, the IMO, Pterside said, has developed practical assistance to support its uniform implementation throughout the global fleet.

    “They are as well developing an all-encompassing data collection system for ships fuel consumption, since carbons emission and fuel efficiency are directly linked.”

    NIMASA, Peterside said, will ensure full compliance to the Annex V1 and prosecute any ship owner for emission of ozone depleting substances which include halons and chlorofluorocarbons ( CFCs).

    No ship owner, he said, would engage in  incineration on board ship of certain products like contaminated packaging materials and polychlorinated biphenyls ((PCBs) without being prosecuted by NIMASA.

    “Today, we are making yet another history in our collective efforts, in combating climate change and adapting to the impact of global warming in Nigeria.

    “Your presence at this occasion is a testimony of our collective concerto reduce the carbon foot print of our country, and improve the condition and living standard of the people already threatened by the impact of the climate change.

    “”Since the world economy relies on shipping, it is just a simple fact that sustainable development will rely on a sustainable  and efficient transportation system.

    “As you may be aware, a new global climate change agreement has been negotiated and agreed in Paris ( COP 21), and from all indications, the demand for shipping services will increasingly be from developing countries.

    “This assertion is very true for Nigeria and other African countries. It is in this regard that NIMASA which is the National Focal Point (NFP) for the implementation of the convention is organising this event to support the efforts of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC) by aligning our activities with that of the IMO,” Peterside said.

    Many NIMASA staff, he added, had been trained to key in to the science and art of the climate change for effective monitoring of ships calling at the nation’s sea ports. Over 400 participants attended the event.

  • When sense goes sour

    When sense goes sour

    PERSPECTIVE

    Reading a recent attack on the person of Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside, Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, by Governor Nyesom Wike, through a proxy, Simeon Nwakudu, I felt obliged to render a voluntary duty, to state the facts in a simple, unambiguous manner, and next, leave the reader to the impartial judgment of the conscience.

    The style adopted herein presents both Peterside and Wike, their personalities, motives in the respective portfolios they hold, and then, testimonies about them in the public domain. I shall sum my argument to proving that Peterside is refined, responsible and an invaluable asset to Rivers State and Nigeria. On the other hand, the evidence I shall plead in my argument shall summarise Wike in his true person – an error in governance.

    While that treatise, tried as the author, a political appointee of Wike and therefore beholding to him, might, to arm-twist truth, there is no alternative to the truth. The truth is a healer of the conscience.

    First, who is Wike? What is his personality? There is no doubt that Wike’s character defines his personality. Sigmund Freud, the popular psychoanalyst, considered the father of psychiatry, argues that the adult personality emerges as a composite of early childhood experiences, based on how these experiences are consciously and unconsciously processed within human developmental stages, and how these experiences shape the personality, the case of Wike deserves a new research.

    But he stresses that not every person completes the necessary tasks of every developmental stage. Under such scenario, Freud argues that when they don’t, the results can be a mental condition requiring psychoanalysis to achieve proper functioning. Wike, through his actions, may be a good species for Freud’s further analysis.

    Now to the specifics of Wike’s barrage of lies. First, on the 2015 governorship election captured in the opening paragraph of the essay, never was Wike elected through a majority, lawful votes by the electorate.

    To state that Peterside visited the All Progressives Congress, (APC) National Chairman with bank statements and financial documents are nothing but a rehearsal of the Third Reich propagandist, Paul Joseph Goebbels, whose theory of “the big lie” sustained Adolf Hitler. This figment of the aide’s mind gives an insight into how Wike’s mind operates. Everything, including serious state business, must be reduced to cash and bank statements.

    As to what Peterside told the APC National Chairman, it was never in doubt that he narrated the horror members of APC had been through in the hands of armed groups working for Wike Administration for which the author works for and labours, albeit fruitlessly, to prop its obnoxious human rights records. Wike has the worst personality image hiatus among governors in Nigeria. No essay or whitewash coating or image laundering shall clean the horrible person that the governor is. The Bible had Wike in mind when the Spirit asked, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?…”

    Even national security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, said Wike sponsored violent activities and bought off people’s conscience with his stolen cash.

    Because of Wike, many civil servants working with INEC are not sure how their careers would end. They are before the court. Peterside was right when he said that Wike had brought the Office of the Governor in Rivers State to a state of disrepute.

    Then to the second, and the most critical question that I have to answer. Who is Peterside? What is President Muhammadu Buhari’s testimony about him? How impressed is the American Administration with Peterside?

    Peterside was the sole leading governorship candidate in Rivers State in 2015. His statewide acceptance and popularity drew crowds to his campaigns. Truly, he was the candidate to beat.

    Why was his popularity the threat Wike and his sponsors needed to crack? The single project Wike and those who sponsored him with stolen funds, bullets and arms, had was to stop Peterside by any means possible, including killing Rivers people.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, a man, not given to flippancy, unlike Wike, had this commendation for Peterside: “Peterside’s unanimous election (as Chairman, Association of African Maritime Administrators, AMAA) is not only a personal honour and an affirmation of confidence in his ability to lead AAMA but also places Nigeria in a pivotal position to rally other maritime administrations in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) towards safer global maritime activities.” Unfortunately for Wike, nobody has such presidential commendation for him.

    President Buhari had acknowledged NIMASA’s encouraging performance under Dr Peterside especially in the fight against sea piracy through inter agency cooperation. There is indeed a new NIMASA under Peterside, but it is a story of hard work.

    NIMASA under Peterside has a new direction unlike the cash cow it was under Wike’s boss and benefactor, Goodluck Jonathan. NIMASA was their ATM that the national waterways were one of the most dangerous in Africa after the Strait of Somalia, Africa’s most dangerous. But under Peterside, NIMASA today is the beautiful bride while Nigeria’s waterways, including those in Rivers State, enjoy safety.

    Peterside’s testimonials also have international recognition. Wike won’t like to hear this – the United States has recognised his exploits at NIMASA. Hear the verdict from America – “It appears the energy that NIMASA has at the ports is very tremendous, as seen in all the ports we visited in Lagos.”

    The United States Coast Guard (USCG) led by Commander Thomas Foster, on a visit to Nigeria, commended NIMASA for its strides in ensuring safety at the ports and expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure development regarding ISPS Code implementation in the ports. Through NIMASA, Nigeria now has about 80 per cent compliance rate for the International Ship and Port Facility Security, ISPS Code.  Wike won’t understand this term.

    Under Peterside’s watch, NIMASA has targeted 100 per cent compliance.

    While Wike is revoking Certificates of Occupancy of business chains in Rivers State, Peterside is pursuing Nigeria’s common good, creating jobs for thousands of Nigerians, including Rivers natives.

    Wike is ignorant of the role of NIMASA so he should read up the function of a maritime administration and he will surely join to celebrate this pride of our country.

    While Wike has borrowed billions under two years, Peterside has moved NIMASA to a giant revenue earner for the country. My summation in this matter is simple.

    Peterside did far more in communities in Rivers as Commissioner for Works than Wike did as Governor in two years. Peterside’s imprint can be seen in all parts of the state till date many years after serving as commissioner.

    It is dismissible and laughable for Wike to say that Dr Peterside has a retinue of Nigerian Navy personnel attached to him. Though his office as NIMASA Director-General offers him enormous access to Nigeria’s top security apparatchik, yet he maintains a simple security apparatus. This cannot be said of Wike who moves with about 221 police officers. Peterside had never returned home with naval men. He does not need to. He is at home with the people.

    Wike is what Peterside has described him to be – a huge joke in governance in Rivers State that must be stopped.

    • Ibitari is the spokesman of APC Youth Advocates
  • NIMASA braces for roles in diversification

    NIMASA braces for roles in diversification

    Beyond regulating maritime operations, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has a mandate to aid the Federal Government’ s economic diversification efforts. WALE AJETUNMOBI writes on the agency’s preparation for the task ahead

    THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is bracing for its expected role in the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the economy from the oil and gas sector.

    Agriculture, solid minerals and maritime trade are some of the non-oil commodity markets being eyed by the government as alternative revenue sources following the dwindling value of crude oil in the international market.

    NIMASA’s role in the diversification drive is crucial, given its strategic activities to ensure the security and safety of maritime infrastructure. The agency has a core mandate to promote safe shipping of goods through the nation’s water, which will in turn, shore up the non-oil revenue earnings.

    In his keynote remarks at the fifth Nigeria Transport Awards and Lecture in Lagos, NIMASA’s Director-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said his agency was not oblivious of its mandate.

    He observed that Nigeria has what it takes to push up revenue from non-oil commodities with its vast coastlines, navigable inland waterways and strategic location on the Atlantic Coast of West Africa.

    According to Peterside, maritime remains a strategic sector to the success of the government’s revenue diversification policy, pointing out that revenues from oil and gas sales and other vibrant economic sectors could not be reaped without efficient and responsible maritime.

    The NIMASA chief said: “Shipping is essential for proper operation of any country’s economy and a vital part of a nation’s transport infrastructure. The abundant mineral resources domiciled in every nook and cranny of the country should be harnessed through shipping to create positive economic impact.”

     

    Expected gains from

    deep seabed exploration

     

    In repositioning the economy, Peterside said it has been exploring ways to shore up more revenue from Nigeria’s maritime sector, revealing the plan to explore and harness deep seabed mining to earn more benefits for the country.

    Speaking at the opening of the 23rd International Seabed Authority (ISBA) Assembly in Kingston, Jamaica, Peterside disclosed that the agency had opened consultations with ISBA on how to effectively harness the opportunities in deep seabed mining.

    Leading the Nigerian delegation to the event, he commended ISBA on its role in the optimal utilisation of seabed resources among maritime stakeholders and solicited for assistance in the area of capacity building to survey deep sea and establish a data base for available mineral resources for the benefit of the people.

    He told his audience that the government was developing policies that will aid the harnessing of seabed resources, promising to work closely with the ISBA.

    Peterside said: “The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Transportation is developing a blue economy policy and strategy which will incorporate the sustainable development of the country’s deep seabed resources”.

    The NIMASA chief disclosed that officials of the Nigerian Navy Hydrographic office have been carrying out hydrographic survey and charting of the nation’s maritime perimeter, adding that the agency would engage the Naval Command to effectively enforce the United Nations (UN) Convention on the law of the sea and relevant international maritime instruments to which Nigeria is a party around African continental shelf.

    Seeking the exploration of mineral resources within the nation’s maritime jurisdiction, Peterside assured that NIMASA would continue to prioritise marine environment preservation and protection.

     

    Solving the riddle of bureaucracy

     

    Following the Executive Order by the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, directing the ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals to clear the bottlenecks turning away investors, NIMASA has taken steps to reorganise its activities to align its mandates with government’s Ease of Doing Business Initiative.

    The steps taken to rid NIMASA of the bottlenecks are yielding positive results in the maritime sector, Peterside said.

    The NIMASA director shared the testimony with a group of businessmen in the United States (U.S.) on the sideline of an Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas. The theme of the conference was: “Sub-Saharan African oil and gas networking session.

    At the meeting, Peterside assured investors of Nigeria’s stable business climate, noting that the government had initiated regulations to support smooth business operations, especially in the maritime sector.

    Describing Nigeria’s maritime industry as a thrust of golden opportunities which sincere investors will make maximum profit, Peterside disclosed that the nation allows income tax exemptions for infrastructural development in ship building and making financial incentives available for ship building and ship scrapping with assurance of foreign repatriation of capital and profit.

    “We have made move to provide basket of incentives to ensure that investors get into the industry and maximise the opportunities in the maritime sector for the benefit of both the people of Nigerians and the investors”, he said.

    The NIMASA director-general reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to carry out more reforms, with the aim to ensure a drastic reduction in bureaucratic bottlenecks impeding investment in the country.

    He said that the government’s seriousness to attract more investments was demonstrated in the choice of Acting President Osinbajo as the coordinator of the Ease of Doing Business Initiative.

    Peterside added that the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council had approved a national action plan for implementation across priority areas to enhance entry and exit of goods and services to drive foreign investments inflow into Nigeria.

    Restating NIMASA’s commitment to boost investment in the maritime sector, Peterside, at the Nor-Shipping 2017 held in Lillstrome, Norway, hinted that Nigeria had taken delivery of the fifth largest floating dock in Africa, a project that is expected to be completed in the last quarter of the year.

    He said: “Nigerian maritime is endowed with over 850 kilometres of coastline. We have six modern port complexes and a fast developing intermodal transport system as well as abundant trained workforce combined with a standard regulatory regime, which are benefits accruable to investing in the Nigeria maritime sector.

    “Our country is bounded by two land-locked countries of Chad and Niger. So, we are not just serving goods coming into Nigeria, we are also serving goods going to Chad and Niger. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) was established by the government to fast track investment entry into Nigeria. Part of the council’s mandate is to ensure the commencement of 24-hour ports operations.”

    The NIMASA director also identified the key areas of achieving a maritime hub status, including putting the right infrastructure in place, reliable regulatory regime and efficient maritime security.

    He said: “The Federal Government has not only put the right infrastructure in place, but it has also put the right regulatory regime and also a set of incentives to make our maritime sector a hub.

    “So, if anyone wants to talk about stability, you can say Nigeria has it. The government is also working on intermodal transport system to facilitate the ease of doing business and of course good regulatory regime.”

    Peterside said the government was working out plans to refloat the national fleet for the country, noting that initiative would be private sector driven.

    He said: “The government, through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, is making efforts to refloat the national fleet. When the plans are concluded, it will ensure that the private sector drive the process while government will serve as facilitator. That is the way we have chosen to address the issue of national fleet ownership.”

     

    Symbiotic relationship

    with investors

     

    The agency has been re-assuring investors of profits on their venture into the maritime business and an insistence on mutually beneficial relationship, even as the NIMASA chief foreclosed compromised.

    Peterside spoke of Africa’s readiness to engage the global investors in the area of maritime businesses, but on equal terms. He said it was time African maritime administrators stopped others from engaging them on their own terms, whether they bring vessels or just taking for cargoes.

    Rather, he said African maritime needs a mutually beneficial relationship where it can give and also receive.

    He averred: “What we are trying to do is to change the terms of engagement for the rest of the world in terms of maritime businesses. We want to operate on equal terms that are not lopsided against our own interest, thereby creating room for a mutually beneficial relationship.

    “There are countless opportunities in the maritime administration of Nigeria and the rest of countries in Africa.

    “In Nigeria, we are diversifying the economy, which is the biggest economy in Africa with a vast population, vast coastline of over 800 kilometres, and endowment in many natural resources and a good Gross Domestic Product (GDP) amongst others.

    “If any investor is considering doing maritime business in Africa, such investor must talk about Nigeria. The business model must be beneficial to all parties. That is, the investor and the people of Nigeria.”

     

    Vision for African maritime trade

     

    Following his recent appointment as the chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA), Peterside said his plans were to increase Africa’s shares in the global maritime market.

    The drive, he noted, would be achieved through the promotion African maritime industry growth by building the capacity of the individual nation’s maritime sector.

    Charging maritime stakeholders in the continent to foster partnership and cooperation, Peterside stressed the importance of collaboration for African maritime to take its rightful place in the global maritime community.

    He spoke with African Maritime Advisory Group (AMAAG) at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in London. He highlighted briefed the AMAAG members of the modest progress recorded by Heads of African Maritime Administrations, working together and the plans of going forward for the implementation of the instruments signed by African Heads of State and Governments to reposition the continent’s maritime community.

    He said: “Africa is a major stakeholder in maritime market, so, we must take our rightful place. This can only happen if we work together, and these cooperation issues would be brought to the front burner during the meeting of the Executive committee of AAMA coming up in September in Egypt.

    “If you look at the number of seafarers we have globally, it appears things are lopsided against Africa and the challenge appears to be sea time training, so we are talking about sea time and building capacity.”

    He also observed that African did not have its fleets, suggesting the need for African nations to develop their own fleets while the terms of trade was being looked into.

    Peterside said: “What is going on is that many other countries of the world just come to Africa to take our cargoes and they go away.

    “How can we all operate on the same level? It is because Africa has something to give, which is the reason they are coming to us. Our maritime has enormous potential to generate profits for investors. Therefore, they must engage us on equally beneficial terms.”

    He added that AAMA members would promote collaboration to work out ways to benefit from one another’s experiences. This, he said, will help in the running of the affairs of their respective maritime administrations.

    He listed the areas of collaboration to include enhancing the continent’s fleets, human capacity development, peer review in terms of maritime administration, ports state control, coastal control and infrastructural growth, among other.

    The objectives, he said, would be geared towards achieving a virile maritime administration in Africa, adding that AAMA, under his leadership, had put policies in place to enhance African maritime administrators to work as a block to get a better share of the global maritime trade, beginning with representation at the IMO.

    He disclosed that AAMA would meet with the leadership of the African Union (AU) to deliberate on how best to harness the continents maritime potential, using international regulatory instruments.

    Corroborating Peterside’s suggestion, the Alternative Permanent Representative of Ghana to IMO, Mrs. Azara Prempeh, said Africa’s representation in the IMO Council and the Secretariat staffing did not reflect the numerical strength of African states membership in IMO, urging AAMA to work as a block to influence a change of policy in favour of the African continent.

    She said: “Heads of Maritime Administrations should engage the AU to give maritime affairs the deserved priority attention in its structure. We also need proper implementation of the Yaounde Code of Conduct that has to do with maritime security in West and Central Africa, the Lome Charter, 2050 Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy (AIMS), AU Agenda 2063 and other instruments accented to by African leaders to fast-track the development of the continent’s maritime potential.”

     

    Engaging Africa in

    international maritime politics

     

    Leading the AAMA executive delegation to meet with the IMO Secretary-General, Mr. Kitack Lim, at the organisation’s headquarters in London, Peterside called for increased African representation in IMO. He said that there was the need for Africa’s proportionate representation to commensurate with the size of the continent’s membership of IMO.

    He said: “The number of African nation at the council of the IMO is disproportionate to the size of the continent’s representation at the global maritime body. To drive Africa’s maritime sector development agenda, there is need for a proportionate and effective representation of the continent in the council and at the secretariat.”

    Commending the IMO for the technical support extended to members in Africa, Peterside solicited for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the IMO and AAMA to have integrated position, saying it would be beneficial to African countries needing technical supports.

    In his response, the IMO Secretary-General, Lim, praised the African Maritime Administrations for their high level organisation and a proactive leadership of AAMA with a drive towards ensuring that Africa maritime sector remains viable.

    He urged African nations to foster cooperation and work closely to remain a formidable block that would be of influence in decision making at the IMO.

    The IMO chief said developing countries could learn from the success stories of maritime industries of developed nations, assuring the AAMA members of the IMO’s willingness to continue to champion greater assistance to developing countries for more benefits in global maritime trade.

    He promised that the technical department of IMO would get back to AAMA on the various requests made.

  • NIMASA debunks advert on employment

    NIMASA debunks advert on employment

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says it has not launched a recruitment campaign of any kind now.

    The Head, Corporate Communication Team of NIMASA, Mr Isichei Osamgbi, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.

    Osamgbi said, “The attention of NIMASA has been drawn to the misinformation making the round in media, particularly online platforms, that there is an ongoing recruitment exercise in the agency’’.

    He said the agency was not associated with any of the adverts being peddled on various social media platforms to defraud unsuspecting citizens seeking legitimate employment in the organization in a statement.

    “This clarification is necessitated by the recruitment advert supposedly floated by the agency and circulated on various social media platforms with the intention of misleading and defrauding Nigerians.

    “The agency’s management under the leadership of Dr Dakuku Peterside will continue to operate within the tenets of its core values of commitment, accountability, discipline and transparency,’’ he said.

    Osamgbi said that NIMASA would keep to its core values in dealing with its stakeholders, including Nigerians, who might wish to contribute to the development of the country through employment in NIMASA.

    “The most common tactics of the scam involved: twitter and text messages, e-mails, as well as letters inviting desperate job seekers for fake job interviews at different locations across the country claiming to be consultants to NIMASA.

    “The agency has informed appropriate authorities about the activities of these unscrupulous elements who are going about peddling false information to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “We appeal to members of the public, particularly job seekers, to treat any of such adverts as fake, as the agency is currently not in the process of employing.

    “Anyone who entertains such invitation does so at his or her own risk.

    “For the umpteenth time, NIMASA as a responsible corporate citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has not commissioned or contracted any individual or group to engage in recruitment of anybody on its behalf.

    “At the appropriate time, NIMASA will advertise its available vacancies for qualified Nigerians to apply,’’ he said.

  • NIMASA introduces new cabotage policy

    A new Cabotage Compliance Strategy (NCCS) has gone into operation in the country,the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) announced yesterday.

    The Director-General of the agency, Dr Dakuku Peterside,said the new policy was to facilitate a better  coastal and inland trade regime and to  secure jobs for qualified Nigerians in the maritime sector.

    Chief spokesman for NIMASA, Mr Isichei Osamgbi, quoted Peterside as saying that with the NCCS regime, the agency  would no longer consider applications for grant of waiver on manning for prescribed categories of officers in vessels engaged in cabotage trade.

    “The era of foreigners taking over jobs that Nigerians are qualified for in the maritime sector is over,” he said.

    “The NCCS will point a new direction to our cabotage regime as the agency will no longer consider application for grant of waiver on manning requirements for vessels engaged in coastal trade.

    “This is with regards to 2nd officer, 2nd engineer, 2nd mate, down to able seamen, ratings and stewards,” he said.

    The director-general stated that special applications for captains, chief engineers, chief officers, and 1st mate, in the absence of qualified Nigerians, would be considered on merit.

    “It is on the condition that such an organisation will plan to train a Nigerian and make a transition plan to ensure that the Nigerian takes over the job within one year,” he said.

    He said that the whole essence of this was to ensure that Nigerians were not deprived of the jobs due to them on showing requisite qualifications for the job.

    Peterside pledged  that NIMASA would continue to work closely with stakeholders to support and promote indigenous participation in the Nigerian maritime sector.

    He advised all relevant government agencies and International Oil Companies (IOCs) to collaborate with the agency in harnessing opportunities available in the nation’s maritime space.

  • NIMASA mulls Nigerian flagged ocean vessels

    NIMASA mulls Nigerian flagged ocean vessels

    • Operators to access $100m Cabotage Fund 

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  will  ensure  that the Federal Government’s dream of owning flagged ocean  going vessels is realised, its Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said.

    He said the Ministry of Transportation was trying to refloat the national fleet.

    Dakuku, who is also the chairman, Association of African Maritime Administrators (AAMA), told The Nation that lack of  flagged ocean vessels was disturbing, noting that the problem was not peculiar to Nigeria.

    However, he said there are many Nigerian flagged vessels in the cabotage and regional trade.

    He pledged to ensure access to the over $100 million Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) by players in the industry, adding that the agency is working on this.

    According to him, no African country has a flagged ocean going vessel but noted that all African maritime administrations are addressing the issue continentally, sub-regionally and nationally to grow African tonnage and fleet.

    The NIMASA chief assured players in the industry that he was working with his team to enable them access the cabotage vessel financing fund. He said the fund was abused in the past, adding that what his management doing is to tidy regulation around access to the fund to ensure it is used for which it is meant.

    Peterside said: “We have Nigerian flagged vessels but there are no Nigerian ocean going vessels. There are a lot of Nigerian vessels that are doing cabotage trade. However, lack of Nigerian flagged ocean going vessel is not peculiar to Nigeria, it is a problem in the whole of Africa.

    “There is no African nation with its flagged ocean going vessel. Even in Liberia, where we have Liberian flagged vessels, they are not owned by Liberia. So, it is a concern in the entire Africa. It is one of the problems all African maritime administrations are addressing – how do we grow African tonnage, how do we grow African fleet. We are addressing it from continental, regional, sub-regional and national perspectives. Nationally, Nigeria through the Ministry of Transportation, is trying to refloat the national fleet and the different perspective is that are trying to bring the private sector to drive it while government serves as a facilitator. That is one way to address the issue of fleet as a country. Other countries are adopting different initiatives to address the issue of national fleet ownership to have their own flagged ocean moving vessels convey their goods to international markets.

    “The cabotage vessel financing fund was set up by an Act of the National Assembly to support local activation by growing ownership of vessels by players in the industry and growth of national fleet by extension. Over the years because the fund was abused, we are trying to tidy regulation around how it will be accessed.

    “The law empowers the minister to approve guidelines for access to the fund. What we are doing is to review those guidelines so that nobody shall abuse the fund and it will be used for the purpose for which it is meant, which is to help indigenous players to acquire vessels. We have made firm promise that within the next one year from now, people will have access to the over $100million fund.”