The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NIMASA

  • Nigeria backs regional initiative to fight piracy

    The Federal Government has expressed support for regional initiative geared toward eliminating the scourge of piracy and maritime crimes, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea

    The Head, Corporate Communication, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajia Lami Tumaka, said this in a statement in Lagos Wednesday.

    According to the statement, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, made the remark at the ongoing International Maritime Organisation (IMO)/Maritime Organisation for West and Central Africa (MOWCA) sponsored integrated Sub-regional Coast Guard summit in Brussels, Belgium.

    Peterside, who is the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the meeting, said Nigeria’s position was premised on the fact that crime at sea, especially in the Gulf of Guinea was almost always trans-national.

    He said a regional integrated approach was most suited for checking the menace.

    Addressing delegates at the conference, Peterside said Nigeria with the longest coastline in the continent was mostly affected by the activities of criminals.

    “If the continent and maritime actors do not rise up to tackle piracy, it will affect commerce which is the driver of growth and by extension hamper development,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the NIMASA DG as saying at the forum.

  • Nigeria seeks collaboration with IMO

    Nigeria seeks collaboration with IMO

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed Nigeria’s commitment to greater collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop the maritime industry.

    This is contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Communication Team of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Monday in Lagos, a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    The minister expressed the commitment when he paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary-General of the IMO, Mr Kitack Lim, recently in London.

    Amaechi commended IMO for the technical assistance rendered to Nigeria.

    He called for more cooperation in the areas of combating piracy and maritime education.

    The minister told the IMO secretary- general that ”Nigeria has already put in place action plans and initiatives through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)’’.

    Amaechi said the action plans were for the implementation of the Code of Conduct entered into by the Heads of States and Governments of ECOWAS, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission on the fight against piracy, sea robbery and other maritime crimes.

    To make Nigerian ports safer for international trade, the minister said that the Security Assessment Checklist of the International Ship and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code were continually receiving adequate attention by both NIMASA and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

    He also assured the IMO scribe that the findings and observations of the recently-concluded IMO Member States Audit Scheme (IMSAS) of Nigeria “is being studied’’.

    “This is with a view to preparing and implementing Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) within the stipulated time frame,” NAN quotes the minster as saying.

    The minister also called for greater technical cooperation with the IMO with a view to reviewing programmes and curriculum of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom,

    According to him, this is in compliance with the 2010 Amendments to STCW and support to secure sea time training for graduates of the maritime academy.

    Amaechi also requested for a technical advice in converting the academy to a degree-awarding institution and greater involvement of the IMO in building capacities of the Academy’s instructors.

    Responding, the IMO secretary-general, commended Nigeria for its commitment toward meeting the obligations of the IMO and other international organisations.

    The secretary-general assured the minister of the cooperation of the IMO in the areas of continuous training on Maritime Security, Search and Rescue (SAR), Port State Control (PSC) and capacity building for Instructors of MAN, Oron.

    He said that sea time training had become a global concern, adding that the IMO would reach out to shipping companies toward engaging the academy’s cadets on board vessels.

    The minister was accompanied to the IMO by the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, and Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative to the IMO, Mr Diko Bala.

  • NIMASA to job seekers: beware of fraudsters

    NIMASA to job seekers: beware of fraudsters

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said  the agency is not recruiting and advised the public not to be deceived by fraudsters.

    A statement by NIMASA’s Head of Corporate Communication Hajia Lami Tumaka said the public should not be deceived that the agency engaged a recruitment firm to employ on its behalf.

    “We urge the public to disregard activities of unscrupulous elements bent in defrauding them under the guise of engaging on a recruitment exercise for NIMASA,’’ Peterside said.

    He described as fraudulent an online platform purporting that the agency floated a scholarship programme, tagged “NIMASA Scholarship 2016/2017’’.

    Peterside, said the advertisement was the handiwork of “unscrupulous’’ elements with an intention to rip off the public.

    The director-general advised people not to patronise fraudsters.

    He said “as a public institution committed to the rule of law and best practices, NIMASA has standard procedures for communicating its activities and will not request money from would-be candidates as the fraudsters are doing.’’

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the agency will always communicate its programmes and projects through well-known channels of the media, its website and the social media,’’ the director-general said.

    Peterside, who regretted the negative impact of the activities of the fraudsters, warned that NIMASA in collaboration with security agencies launched an investigation into the matter, adding that those behind the fraud must face the full wrath of the law.

  • NIMASA collaborates with stakeholders

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will collaborate with stakeholders to unlock opportunities in the sector, its Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, hass said.

    He made the pledge when the Acting Chinese Consul-General, Mr. Li Yong, visited him in his office.

    Peterside said cooperation among South countries will drive emerging economies.

    He praised the Chinese Government for strengthening the Nigerian-China relationship, citing some major projects across the country to buttress his point.

    He urged the Chinese Government to extend the partnership to the sector, adding that it is critical to the growth of the African economy.

    His words: “The maritime sector holds the key to unlocking the opportunities of the sector in the whole of Africa because of our strategic location, population and volume of trade. Therefore, if anyone wants to do business in Africa, Nigeria is the place of choice.”

    Peterside said NIMASA was willing to partner the Chinese Maritime Administration in ship breaking and recycling, on-board training for cadets as well as technical support.

    Yong said he was happy with the China-Nigerian relationship and that the Chinese Central Government was willing to partner with Nigeria in technological advancement and information sharing.

    The Chinese envoy also expressed his government’s determination to support Nigeria in the fight against piracy and other criminalities at sea.

    Peterside advocated local and international collaboration for the actualisation of the potential of the   industry since he assumed office.

  • Why we are reforming NIMASA, by Peterside

    Why we are reforming NIMASA, by Peterside

    the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has explained why the agency is being reformed.

    Peterside spoke on Monday when he received the Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Lagos.

    He said the NIMASA management would reposition the agency through reform and restructuring.

    “ When NIMASA is painted in badlight, many countries would not have anything to do with us,” he said.

    He said for the management  would use NAN as a critical instrument of eliciting understanding and cooperation of the people.

    “If you know the track record of Bayo Onanuga, there will be no doubt that NAN is ready for its next level of global acclaim.

    “In NIMASA, unfortunately we have some reputation issues. These reputation issues is not about people in NIMASA, they are about a few things that went wrong in the past.

    “There is nothing wrong with the NIMASA brand; there is nothing wrong with the people in NIMASA, there is nothing wrong with NIMASA’s processes.

    “There may have been a few abuses in the past but I believe the security agencies with the anti-graft agencies are handling that so we should allow that be.

    “Going forward, our mandate is to reposition NIMASA, reform and restructure NIMASA and that is where you come in.

    “We cannot think of a better tool if you are going to reform a system than communication. The tool of communication promotes understanding.

    “The tool of communication promotes the sharing of vision, mission. That tool is a potent tool and NAN is a critical instrument in deploying communication to get understanding and cooperation of the people.

    “That is where partnership with NIMASA becomes expedient and germane to the transformation and change we are championing in NIMASA.“

    He described NAN as Nigeria’s window to the rest of the world.

    “NAN tells our story to the rest of the world. No other media organisation is better position to tell our story than the News Agency of Nigeria because your footprints are virtually in every local government.

    “Your footprints are in every state, in every sector of the economy and so the world views us from the way you present us.

    “I want to appeal to the News Agency of Nigeria, please present Nigeria in the right perspective to the world and particularly take interest in what we are doing in maritime sector.

    “The maritime sector is, aside from oil and gas, the second most important of our economy, in terms of employment, in terms of contributing to the revenue of the country.

    “If that sector which contributes so much revenue is painted in bad light, the world will not want to deal with us.

    “It is not about those of us in NIMASA, it is about the far-reaching implications on the economic fortune and agenda of a country.

    “When NIMASA is painted in bad light, many countries would not have anything to do with us.

    “So the long-term interest of Nigeria requires that we report NIMASA and the maritime sector in a good light.”

    Onanuga said as a major news gatherer and distributor, NAN supplied 90 per cent of media content to newspapers and blog owners.

    He said: “NAN offers so many things, SMS services, wire services and others.

    “We have a letter that we have written to formally invite the agency to subscribe to our services.

    “I think these are basically why we are here.

    “NAN provides virtually 90 per cent of the contents that you see either on blogs owned by Nigerians or newspapers owned by Nigerians.

    “Most people do not know; they think those people are operating independently of us.

    “They are relying on us; we are the No. 1 content provider in Nigeria for all bloggers.

    “For all newspapers, they rely on us because they cannot afford the expenses of maintaining reporters in all parts of Nigeria.

    “Many people do not know that NAN has about 500 reporters all over Nigeria.”

     

  • Peterside: we will automate payment process in NIMASA

    Peterside: we will automate payment process in NIMASA

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is set to automate its payment system for greater efficiency and eliminate revenue leakages.

    A statement yesterday  by the Head of Corporate Communication Team in NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, quoted the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, as speaking when he hosted representatives of major shipping companies in Nigeria under the aegis of the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) in his office.

    Peterside said the payment system was being reviewed to ensure efficiency.

    He assured the delegation that NIMASA would institute more transparent ways of calculating the three per cent levy charged on all inbound and outbound cargoes.

    “We are automating our payment platform in line with our strategic growth plan to ensure greater efficiency in the payment process.

    “The new process will be integrated with similar platforms of sister agencies in order to correctly ascertain levies chargeable per freight and eliminate the bottlenecks currently being experienced,’’ the director-general said.

    Peterside said the agency’s commitment to the elimination of piracy and other criminal activities on the waterways was unwavering.

    He said the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser would soon launch a high capacity satellite system which would assist the military in dealing with maritime crimes.

    Peterside also urged the shipping companies to support the NIMASA’s capacity building programme by providing sea time experience for cadets sponsored under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).

     

  • NNPC, PPMC, NAPIMS owe NIMASA $3.78b

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),  the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), a subsidiary of the NNPC are jointly owing the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)  $3.78 billion, the House of Representatives has said.

    House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration disclosed this yesterday during a one-day investigative public hearing on  revenue leakages and operational deficiencies in NIMASA.

    Meanwhile, the Reps committee has vowed to unveil owners of over 5300 defaulting companies, who it accused of depriving the country of the much needed revenue.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago said while the NNPC and PPMC are jointly owing NIMASA  $3 billion, NAPIMS is owing the agency $780 million out of the alleged $10 billion owed the agency.

    The debts are defaults on sundry charges and levies meant to be paid to NIMASA over a 10- year period.

    NIMASA’s Director-General,Dakuku Peterside, while speaking before the committee gave reasons for the huge debt owed the agency.

    According to him, the defaults on the three per cent levy on gross freight earning on in and outbound cargo “ is due to double billing, disclaimed and disputed bills and actual debt.”

    He said no debts was supposed to have incurred on the two perc ent surcharge payment on contract sum on cabotage operating vessel. “ The debt under the ship- to- ship ( STS) is a deliberate attempt by companies not to pay non-remittance by international oil companies to the agency.”

    On the actual total figure owed the agency, Peterside declined to mention a figure saying he would not want to give an offhand answer, but one based on realistic calculations, which he would send to the committee.

    The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, S. Zakari.

    Zakari said the negative and reckless image of NIMASA under the last administration disturbed the Federal Government .

    He said: “Mr. chairman, the negative image of the agency consequent upon its actions, the present administration was disturbed that necessary measures were put in place to amongst others, verify the petitions and allegations of unwholesome reckless management of financial and human resources in the agency.

    “In this regard, the first step by the Federal Government was the removal of the Director-General of the agency and to cary out full investigation into all operations of NIMASA.

    “The president has since appointed a new Director-General for the agency, with a clear mandate to reposition, restructure and reform the agency.

    “Furthermore, and arising from investigations which are ongoing, a number of the agency’s top management and senior staff are either facing trial or are being investigated by relevant agencies..

    “It is also noteworthy that Mr, President has since approved performance audit of the whole maritime agencies. This will holistically address most of these issues and help to block most of the leakages.”

     

  • NIMASA to partner Norway in maritime development

    NIMASA to partner Norway in maritime development

    To develop its maritime in-dustry, Nigeria is to partner Norway. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said.

    Speaking when the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Rolf Ree, visited him, he said vertical and horizontal partnerships were required to grow the Nigerian maritime sector.

    Peterside described Norway as a great maritime nation, which has earned global acclaim as a complete maritime cluster driven by technological development.

    He reiterated NIMASA’s resolve to ensure safety and security on the waterways, noting that these will attract more investors to the country.

    “Norway has a lot to benefit from Nigeria as we are a major player in Africa, especially the hydro carbon trade, and the country has a lot to benefit from Norway in the areas of expertise and technology needed to develop the sector. To this end, the Agency is prepared to enter into a partnership, provided it protects Nigeria’s interest and it is in accordance to our laws,” he said.

    The NIMASA boss said the agency has committed itself to a number of initiatives, including the development of a medium term strategic growth plan and building alliances with critical stakeholders all aimed at leapfrogging the Nigerian maritime sector.

    Ambassador Ree described the Nigerian maritime sector as very impressive and noted that the Norwegian Government was willing to collaborate with NIMASA for the development of the maritime sector in many areas, including enhancing the Nigerian flag.

    He expressed Norway’s readiness  to provide infrastructural and technical support to NIMASA in the country’s quest to assert itself as a major player in Africa.

    Since he assumed office about two months ago, Peterside has sought collaboration from local and international stakeholders with a view to engendering a sustainable development of the maritime sector for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

  • Group faults EFCC on ‘Omatseye’s conviction claim’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has been faulted for saying the former Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General, Temisan Omatseye, was convicted for “N1.5 billion contract scam.”

    EFCC had listed Omatseye’s sentencing as one of 140 convictions made in the last six months.

    But, a group, the Maritime Advocacy Group (MAG), said Omatseye was not convicted for fraud as EFCC implied, as no money was traced to his account.

    In a statement by its president, Ifeanyi Okolie and Secretary General, Kayode Animashaun, MAG said: “It is pertinent to note that nowhere in the judgment is Temisan Omatseye found guilty of any fraud let alone misappropriation of funds. No where again was it mentioned that he was guilty of any criminal offence.

    “For record purposes, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court in Lagos found him guilty of approving contracts above his threshold, a matter already subject to appeal.

    “Omatseye had always stated in his statements and in court proceedings that the said threshold was never officially transmitted to him at the time the contracts were awarded.

    “It is also pertinent to note that at no time was there any N1.5 billion fraud. This figure is a figment of the imagination of his persecutors. As a matter of fact, Omatseye, as at the time he was suspended, left more than N52 billion in NIMASA’s account.

    “When computed, the amount in the 27- count charge comes to about N90 million and not the N1.5 billion the public is made to believe.

    “We call on Ibrahim Magu, the hardworking chairman of the EFCC, to always get his facts right before issuing statements. We believe in objective and factual reportage and will continue to preach a zero tolerance to corruption in the maritime industry.”

  • NIMASA to partner Norway on maritime development

    To develop its maritime industry, Nigeria is to partner Norway. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director-General Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said.

    Speaking when the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Rolf Ree, visited him, he said vertical and horizontal partnerships were required to grow the Nigerian maritime sector.

    Peterside described Norway as a great maritime nation, which has earned global acclaim as a complete maritime cluster driven by technological development.

    He reiterated NIMASA’s resolve to ensure safety and security on the waterways, noting that these will attract more investors to the country.

    “Norway has a lot to benefit from Nigeria as we are a major player in Africa, especially the hydro carbon trade, and the country has a lot to benefit from Norway in the areas of expertise and technology needed to develop the sector. To this end, the Agency is prepared to enter into a partnership, provided it protects Nigeria’s interest and it is in accordance to our laws,” he said.

    The NIMASA boss said the agency has committed itself to a number of initiatives, including the development of a medium term strategic growth plan and building alliances with critical stakeholders all aimed at leapfrogging the Nigerian maritime sector.

    Ambassador Ree described the Nigerian maritime sector as very impressive and noted that the Norwegian Government was willing to collaborate with NIMASA for the development of the maritime sector in many areas, including enhancing the Nigerian flag.

    He expressed Norway’s readiness  to provide infrastructural and technical support to NIMASA in the country’s quest to assert itself as a major player in Africa.

    Since he assumed office about two months ago, Peterside has sought collaboration from local and international stakeholders with a view to engendering a sustainable development of the maritime sector for Nigeria’s economic prosperity.