Recently, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) promoted and redeployed top management staff of the agency. YUSUF BABALOLA x-rayed how this will promote efficiency and achievement of core mandates of the apex maritime regulatory agency.More than it used to be, there is increased industry operators confidence in the maritime sector as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), apex regulatory agency moves to fully fulfill its mandate.Recent promotions, restructuring and movements of some top management staffers appears to be the opening action for the year.While noting the present economic challenges facing the country, the Director General of the Agency, Dakuku Peterside, have expressed optimism in the countrys ability to come out of the challenge soon.His recent strategy includes reassigning top officers to much strategic assignments for improved impacts, strengthening ties with sister government agencies and building stronger bridges of cooperation with international bodies that will impact on NIMASAs assignments.Even, within and outside the African continent, Petersides leadership drive is attracting accolades with some agencies performing similar functions in other countries seeking to emulate NIMASA.The Sierra-Lone Maritime Administration (SLMA) last year solicited the support of NIMASA in the areas of capacity building of its personnel for effective Port State Control and training of seafarers.Chairman of the Board of SLMA, Mr. Lansana Dambuya, who led a delegation of some board members and management to NIMASA on a working visit, commended the agency for its capacity building initiatives saying it was a model worthy of emulation.Dambuya said that the SLMA thought it wise to partner with NIMASA, one of the leading Maritime Administrations in Africa and to seek areas of collaboration for the benefit of both countries.This is in addition to many other ties with various government security agencies operating under a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes and promotes a Maritime Guard Command for improved security of all the countrys navigable areas.The agency under Petersides watch also stepped up Nigerias preparedness for the International Ships and Ports- facility Security (ISPS) Code and is gearing up for a United States Coast Guard assessment visit scheduled for February this year.Peterside who observed that the effective implementation of the ISPS code is for the good of the global shipping industry also noted that NIMASA as the Designated Authority(DA) for the implementation of the code in Nigeria is committed to safe and secure shipping.He welcomed third party evaluation from the USCG team saying it provides the Agency a better opportunity to assess its progress and adopt new improvement initiatives.Ultimately all of us are working for a common purpose, a safer world through safety and security of the maritime sub sector. If we fix our different corners of the earth, the whole world will be safer for everybody. And so no effort should be spared in trying to guarantee safety and security of all our people the DG said.More vigour will also be injected into the agencys zonal offices as very superior officers will now oversee them under the new arrangement with a view to making them address challenges faster without recourse to long wait for head office intervention in emergencies.The new regime of a restructured NIMASA is expected to pursue its mandate with renewed vigour that will see the agency contributing to putting an end to the lingering recession biting the nations economy.From recent official statement by the agency and redeployment of senior personnel in NIMASA after a round of promotions, officials of the agency now holds responsibilities that will make improved impacts.Actualising its core mandate will be the agencys cardinal focus this year in its bid to add more value to the nations economic and social life while not held down by the present harsh economy facing the country.The agency, according to him, is focused on realising its goal of making Nigeria a hub for maritime activities in the West and Central African Regions.We are focused on the full implementation of our mandate in the new year. We have concluded the restructuring, repositioning and reformation of NIMASA which would take effect in the first quarter of 2017 with the aim of making Nigeria a hub of maritime activities in West and Central Africa.Our commitment is to make sure that indigenous operators maximise their potentials in our maritime industry whilst creating wealth and job opportunities for our teeming youths.
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