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Tag: NIMASA

  • Tinubu appoints Mobereola as new NIMASA DG

    Tinubu appoints Mobereola as new NIMASA DG

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr Dayo Mobereola as the new Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a renewable term of four years.

    Mobereola’s appointment followed the exit of the former Director General of the agency, Mr. Bashir Jamoh, whose tenure recently expired.

    According to a statement ilby his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu expects Mobereola to come to his new position with his wealth of expertise and experience for implementation of policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Dayo Mobereola to serve as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for a renewable term of four years.

    “Dr. Mobereola holds a Ph.D, and an M.Sc in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, England, and a fellow of the same institute in Nigeria.

    Read Also: Tinubu reaffirms commitment to enhancing security of Gulf of Guinea

    “He was the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) from 2003 to 2015 and was also the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State from 2015 to 2016.

    “In the private sector, he was Deputy Managing Director and Project Development Director at AFM Consulting Plc, London. He was also Senior Economist at British Petroleum Shipping Limited, London.

    “The President expects the new Director-General to bring his vast experience to bear in his new role and to achieve the mandate of NIMASA in providing world-leading standards of maritime safety administration, maritime labour regulation, marine pollution prevention and control, search and rescue, cabotage enforcement, shipping development and ship registration, in accordance with the policies and programmes of the Renewed Hope Agenda for the sector as ably guided by the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola,” the statement reads.

  • Jamoh bows out of NIMASA

    Jamoh bows out of NIMASA

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has retired after completing his four-year tenure as the DG and spending 30 years in the agency.

    Jamoh was directed by the ministry to hand over to the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Ofordile, pending when another DG would be appointed by President Bola Tinubu.

    Read Also: Group hails NIMASA’s Jamoh leadership strides, warns detractors

    During the handover at NIMASA Towers in Victoria Island, Lagos yesterday, Jamoh expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for giving him the opportunity to serve and urged the next leadership of the agency to consolidate on the gains of the past four years.

    He said: “I wish to express gratitude to Almighty Allah and the Federal Government for the privilege given me to serve Nigeria in this capacity.’’

  • Group hails NIMASA’s Jamoh leadership strides, warns detractors

    Group hails NIMASA’s Jamoh leadership strides, warns detractors

    The Renewed Hope Ambassadors of Nigeria (RHAN) has commended the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh for his leadership strides. 

    The group, at a briefing on Monday in Abuja, said Jamoh has introduced laudable reforms in the agency, translating to multiple gains in maritime administration and safety in Nigeria. 

    RHAN’s national coordinator Hon. Yakubu Dauda, said Jamoh’s leadership style reflects an astonishing level of transparency and accountability. 

    Dauda said NIMASA under Jamoh has fulfilled its strategic mandate of regulating the maritime industry and introducing laudable reforms.

    “As an astute leader, Dr Bashir Jamoh has introduced laudable reforms in the agency, translating to multiple gains in maritime administration and safety in Nigeria. His leadership style indeed reflects an astonishing level of transparency and accountability. 

    “It is well known that under Dr Bashir Jamoh, NIMASA has recorded tremendous progress in fulfilling its strategic mandate of regulating the Maritime industry in Nigeria. 

    “The maritime sector that NIMASA oversees is one of the few sectors that have remained resilient in the face of the economic crisis that the country is dealing with. Only uncommon and astute leadership could have yielded such results in amidst a paucity of resources.

    “It is the position of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors of Nigeria that under Dr Bashir Jamoh, the agency has been positioned to fulfil the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration. Thus, Nigerians will witness an improved and efficient maritime sector in no distant time. 

    “Dr Bashir Jamoh, as an administrator, displayed foresight in ensuring productivity in the NIMASA workforce through improved welfare packages and conditions of service. This is instructive and an indication that NIMASA is positioned to contribute its quota to sustainable growth and development in the country. 

    Read Also: NIMASA’s modular floating dock for installation

    “The Renewed Hope Ambassadors of Nigeria commends this drive and wishes to use this medium to call on other Nigerians in leadership positions to imitate the passion and dedication of Dr Bashir Jamoh in our quest for sustainable growth and development,” he said. 

    RHAN warned detractors behind slander campaigns to desist. 

    While urging other Nigerian leaders to emulate Jamoh’s example, the group urged the NIMASA boss to remain focused.

    “It is surprising that some faceless groups and individuals have launched a slander campaign against Dr Bashir Jamoh because it is no longer business as usual for those shortchanging the system through the maritime sector,” the statement added.

    “After carefully analyzing the various narratives sponsored against Dr Bashir Jamoh in the public space, we wish to state unequivocally that those behind the slander campaign are enemies of Nigeria and democracy. 

    “It is on record that they have been feeding fat from the system through illicit activities that deny the government the necessary revenue from the maritime sector in the country. They have elected to throw caution in the wind by making unfounded allegations that remain a figment of their imaginations. 

    “The general public must be aware that these nefarious individuals and groups are bent on circumventing the system for selfish gains to the detriment of millions of Nigerians. 

    “We encourage Dr Bashir Jamoh to continue his drive to re-position NIMASA for greater productivity. His penchant for hard work is recognized and appreciated by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors of Nigeria,” RHAN stated. 

  • NIMASA’s modular floating dock for installation

    NIMASA’s modular floating dock for installation

    • By Oluwakemi Dauda

    The Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA) said yesterday that it has commenced preparations to deploy the multi-million dollar modular Modular Floating Dock for installation by moving the facility to a jetty at the Standard Flour Mills in Apapa.

     It was gathered that the agaency did this in preparation for its movement to the scheduled operational base at the Continental Shipyard, Apapa.

    NIMASA, in a statement signed by its image maker, Edward Osagie, said the 50-ton cylindrical spuds, which are for anchoring the dock were being prepared for installation.

     “We are moving slowly but steadily to our destination. Today, we are lifting out the cylindrical spuds to be prepared for piling at the Continental Shipyard, where the floating dock is scheduled to commence operations.

    Read Also: NIMASA: Apapa Port’s modular floating dock installation set

    “These spuds have to be firmly installed before we can tow the floating dock there. We assure stakeholders that very soon, Nigeria will save foreign earnings with the commencement of operations at our dock.”

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) had leased designated areas at the Continental Shipyard for the operations of the Modular Floating Dock last year.

    The areas include the Dolphin Jetty, the waterfront of the jetty adjourning the slipway, an administrative block, a construction, welding, and mechanical workshop, and a civil maintenance workshop, among others.

    The project, it was gathered, would be run under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

  • NIMASA to tackle cabotage fund disbursement bottlenecks

    NIMASA to tackle cabotage fund disbursement bottlenecks

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said within the next six months, the agency will resolve the delay in the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

    The Director-General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh made this known yesterday, during a courtesy visit by members of the Nigerian Chambers of Shipping (NCS) and the Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Shipping, Panos Gliatis.

    One of the major unfulfilled goals for advancing the country’s blue economy, as indicated by Jamoh, is the distribution of the CVFF.

    “I appeal that we move back to the drawing board and see how we can revive this so that ship owners can have vessels that will enable our young ones to have jobs and reduce insecurity in the country.

    “To address the bottlenecks, we have other Private Lending Institutions (PLIs) that will come in and compete with the others that we have and we have also gone far in the establishment of a maritime bank.

     ”We have been discussing with your predecessors and this was centered on the issue of disbursements of the CVFF and at that time the NNPC promised to provide data in terms of ships we intend to procure.

    “The guidelines provide that NIMASA will provide 50 per cent of the cost of the vessel, the PLIs, the banks will provide 35 per cent while the beneficiary will provide 15 per cent.

    “This is a way of trying to protect public funds and to remove ourselves from the previous experience of shipping frauds.”

    He explained at that junction, the NNPC Shipping agreed to take off nine percent from the beneficiaries, noting that the “beneficiaries will pay six percent and our discussion did not stop at what they can contribute.”

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    Jamoh assured that all stakeholders would also be involved in strengthening the interest rate.

    “We have gone far and the disagreement now is that the PLIs are insisting on the interest rate of 7.5 per cent, while NIMASA and NNPC Shipping are saying that they will only pay 6.5 per cent,” he said.

    To expedite the funds’ disbursement, Jamoh said that the matter would be discussed with NNPC Shipping’s managing director.

    Jamoh clarified that the Federal Government’s creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry was done to focus more on the advantages and profits of the blue economy.

    He described as ideal the timing of the partnership with NNPC Shipping.

    According to him, the government resolved to establish a ministry to oversee the formulation of regulations aimed at promoting the growth of shipping and other associated industries to support the expansion of the blue economy.

    Before this, the NNPC Shipping boss, Gliatis, declared that the goal of the visit was to guarantee industry stakeholders’ collaboration for development and economic expansion.

    “This is not a new partnership but just to continue with what we had in the past.

    “Obviously, the situation has changed, in NNPC and there is a new government, we need to see the jobs that have been done so far, opportunities, and agree on the path for the future,” he said.

    The NCS President, Aminu Umar, in his remark, revealed that shipowners operating under the NCS’s auspices had a dialogue on shipping in the nation with NNPC shipping.

    Umar expressed confidence that the funds’ distribution would lead to investment opportunities and the creation of jobs, thereby enhancing economic growth.

  • NIMASA seeks UNILAG’s, others’ commitment on blue economy

    NIMASA seeks UNILAG’s, others’ commitment on blue economy

    The Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, has challenged universities across the country  on the  major roles they have to  play in the development of the Blue Economy.

    Speaking during a visit by the management team from the University of Lagos led by its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola to NIMASA, he noted that agency is committed to the development of the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS)  in UNILAG, and urged the  university management to develop and implement a five-year plan to make the institute the epicentre of research for the repositioning of the Blue Economy as the leading contributory sector of the economy.

    This, he said, is due to the vast maritime potential the country is blessed with.

    He said: “In the next four to five years, both NIMASA and UNILAG should be able to boast of important research milestones achieved by the Institute of Maritime Studies, leading to recommendations and action plans geared towards the development of Nigeria’s Blue Economy. Considering that maritime is global by nature, the institute should also have an international focus with students from other African countries welcomed, to broaden the scope of learning and thereby positioning Nigeria as a hub for maritime education as well.”

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    The NIMASA boss also called for the harmonisation of all 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) which the Agency has signed with universities in the country to serve as a guide for the IMS in UNILAG.

    In her remarks, Prof. Ogunsola, assured the NIMASA management of the commitment towards sustaining standards by intentionally changing the narrative of maritime education in Nigeria.

     She however, appealed to Jamoh to complete the UNILAG-IMS building project.

     Ogunsola said they will embrace partnership with local and international parties to ensure UNILAG becomes a formidable force in the Maritime space through developing and grooming the right capacities, driving relevant research, ensuring proper certification, securing industry engagement and facilitating exchange opportunities for students, for global relevance.

    The UNILAG-NIMASA Institute of Maritime Studies IMS building is one of six projects sited across each geopolitical zone of the country by the agency to provide suitable manpower requirements for the contemporary maritime industry, through comprehensive theoretical and practical maritime training.

  • BREAKING: Tinubu appoints six new Executive Directors for NPA, NIMASA

    BREAKING: Tinubu appoints six new Executive Directors for NPA, NIMASA

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed six new Executive Directors for two agencies under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy; Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    The new appointments, three for each of the agencies, were made public Thursday evening, in a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    According to the statement, “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Executive Directors in two (2) agencies under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy:

    Read Also: Adeleke denies slashing traditional rulers’ monthly allocation in Osun

    “Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA): Ms. Vivian C. Richard Edet — Executive Director, Finance & Administration; Engr. Olalekan Badmus — Executive Director, Marine & Operations; and Engr. Ibrahim Abba Umar — Executive Director, Engineering & Technical Services.

    “Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Mr. Jibril Abba — Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services; Mr. Chudi Offodile — Executive Director, Finance & Administration; and Engr. Fatai Taye Adeyemi — Executive Director, Operations.

    “The President approves these appointments with the firm belief, after studying their impressive profiles, that the new appointees will expeditiously and efficiently execute on their collective mandate to create the conditions required to significantly raise the contribution of the Marine & Blue Economy sector to the nation’s GDP while evolving the Nigerian economy into a labour-intensive and inclusive one that creates new opportunity for all Nigerians in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda, under the able guidance of the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola.”

  • FRC fines NIMASA N500m over faulty 2018 financial accounts

    FRC fines NIMASA N500m over faulty 2018 financial accounts

    • Suspends Jamoh’s, Offodile’s registration numbers

    The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has faulted the 2018 Financial Reports of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and imposed a N500 million fine on the agency.

    In addition, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and Chudi Offodile, have been suspended, rendering both officials incapable of certifying any financial statements in Nigeria.

    The sanctions which are on the Council’s website, mandated NIMASA to publish the withdrawal of the 2018 audited accounts in two national newspapers within seven working days for non-compliance with financial reporting standards.

    Accordingly, the Council has suspended the FRC registration number- FRC/2017/CIANG/00000016699 of Bashir Jamoh, the Managing Director and the certifiers of NIMASA’s 2018 Audited Financial Statement, and Chudi Offodile (Unregistered), rendering the two officials incapable of certifying any financial statements in Nigeria.

    “The 2018 Audited Financial Statements of NIMASA,” FRC said, “are hereby withdrawn, and NIMASA is directed to restate its 2018 audited financial statements. NIMASA is required to publish, within seven (7) working days from the date of this notice, in at least two national newspapers (full page), that their 2018 financial statements and returns have been withdrawn for non-compliance with Financial Reporting Standards.

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    For violating the financial reporting standards in the preparation of the 2018 financial statement and for its withdrawal, NIMASA is also fined N500 million by the FRC.

    “The Council hereby imposes a Type 6 penalty of N500,000,000 for the withdrawal of the 2018 financial statement, in line with Regulation 18 of the FRC Guidelines/Regulations 2014” the management ordered, as it emphasises the commitment of the FRC to upholding financial reporting standards and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial statements.”

    The FRC took exception to the agency’s penchant for flouting financial regulations, pointing out that the decision serves as punishment for repeated disregard for laid down financial reporting ethics.

    “The decision by the Council which is a punishment for NIMASA’s seeming penchant for financial irregularities as financial statements for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 are also affected, is a clear warning that the agency is ready to act and shed the toga of an inert, incompetent and rudderless agency that has become its lot since February 2017.”

    In a public notice published on the FRC website by its management, the agency said the action is under the FRC Act 2011 (as amended) and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria-Guidelines/Regulations for Inspection and Monitoring of Reporting Entities.

    The FRC, which has also informed other regulatory agencies of the defective financial statements and returns, has, in addition, notified them of the withdrawal of the financial statement for restatement.

    FRC has also directed NIMASA to begin the process of re-stating the 2018 audited account in line with the provisions of the FRC Act and to form the basis for the subsequent years’ account and file it with the Council within two months.

    “This restatement,” FRC said, “will form the basis for the preparation and submission of audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. NIMASA is required to file the restated financial statements for 2018, together with the management letters issued by their external auditors, with the Council within 60 days”, stated the management in the public notice.

    This action against NIMASA, FRC stated, serves as a warning to all reporting entities of their responsibility to comply with prescribed standards and regulations.

  • FRC fines NIMASA N500m over faulty 2018 financial accounts

    FRC fines NIMASA N500m over faulty 2018 financial accounts

    The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has faulted the 2018 Financial Reports of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA ) and imposed a N500million fine on the agency.

    Also NIMASA Director-General Dr. Bashir Jamoh and Director of Finance Chudi Offodile have been suspended, rendering both officials incapable of certifying any financial statements in Nigeria.

    The sanctions, which are on the Councils website, mandated NIMASA to publish the withdrawal of the audited accounts in two national newspapers within seven working days for non-compliance with financial reporting standards.

    FRC ordered  NIMASA to publish the withdrawal of the audited accounts in two national newspapers within seven working days, also suspended the FRC registration number- FRC/2017/CIANG/00000016699 of Bashir Jamoh, its Managing Director and the certifiers of NIMASA’s 2018 Audited Financial Statement, and Chudi Offodile (Unregistered), rendering the two officials incapable of certifying any financial statements in Nigeria.

    “The 2018 Audited Financial Statements of NIMASA are hereby withdrawn, and NIMASA is directed to restate its 2018 audited financial statements. NIMASA is required to publish, within seven (7) working days from the date of this notice, in at least two national newspapers (full page), that their 2018 financial statements and returns have been withdrawn for non-compliance with Financial Reporting Standards.

    “For violating the financial reporting standards in the preparation of the 2018 financial statement and for its withdrawal, NIMASA is also fined N500 million by the FRC.

    “The Council hereby imposes a Type 6 penalty of N500,000,000 for the withdrawal of the 2018 financial statement, in line with Regulation 18 of the FRC Guidelines/Regulations 2014” the management ordered as it emphasizes the commitment of the FRC to upholding financial reporting standards and ensuring the accuracy and reliability of financial statements.”

    Read Also: NPA, NIMASA, SON, Shippers Council chiefs sign performance bond

    The decision by the Council which is a punishment for NIMASA’s seeming penchant for financial irregularities as financial statements for 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 are also affected, is a clear warning that the agency is ready to act and shed the toga of an inert, incompetent and rudderless agency that has become its lot since February 2017.

    In a public notice published on the FRC website by its management, the agency said the action is under the FRC Act 2011 (as amended) and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria-Guidelines/Regulations for Inspection and Monitoring of Reporting Entities.

    The FRC, which has also informed other regulatory agencies of the defective financial statements and returns, has, in addition, notified them of the withdrawal of the financial statement for restatement.

    FRC has also directed NIMASA to begin the process of re-stating the 2018 audited account in line with the provisions of the FRC Act and to form the basis for the subsequent years’ account and file it with the Council within two months.

    “This restatement,” FRC said, “will form the basis for the preparation and submission of audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. 

    NIMASA is required to file the restated financial statements for 2018, together with the management letters issued by their external auditors, with the Council within 60 days”, stated the management in the public notice.

    This action against NIMASA, FRC stated, serves as a warning to all reporting entities of their responsibility to comply with prescribed standards and regulations,

  • NIMASA, Navy inaugurate joint committee on Blue Economy

    NIMASA, Navy inaugurate joint committee on Blue Economy

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Navy have inaugurated a joint committee to establish ways in which the synergy between the two agencies can be channelled into a robust environment for investment in the Blue Economy.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC West), Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, who inaugurated the 8-man committee charged them to come up with policies to create a welcoming maritime environment for investment in the Nigerian Blue Economy.

    Membership of the 8-man committee from the Navy includes Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, FOC, Western Naval Command; Cdre K.O. Oguntuga, Commander NNS Beecroft; Cdre N.S. Kaman, COO of Western Naval Command, and Capt. A. U. Tijani.

    Read Also: Ex-DSS officer retracts allegation of brutalisation against ex-NIMASA DG

    The Committee members representing NIMASA are the Director of Deep Blue Project, Chief Otonye Obom; the Head of Shipping Development, Kurahson Inuwa; the Head of ISPS, Isa Mudi; and the Deputy Director, of Cabotage Services, Aisha Usman Dangote.

    Recently, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR, during a visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Navy to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos, announced the constitution of an 8-Man committee, comprising four each from the Navy and NIMASA.