By Ade Jacobs
The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has commended the budget implementation of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
The committee noted that the top maritime agency has done well despite the coronavirus pandemic.
Chairman of the committee, Lynda Ikpeazu, stated this in Lagos during an oversight visit by members to NIMASA, where she expressed confidence in the current management of NIMASA led by its Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh.
She said Dr. Jamoh had laid down a clear roadmap for taking the agency to greater heights and pledged the lower chamber’s support.
Jamoh had, on assumption of duty as Director-General in March, launched a three-pronged agenda for maritime industry development focused on Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Shipping Development.
The House Committee chairman said by that agenda, “The Director-General has laid a good foundation for the committee and the committee is here to monitor the activities of the Agency for 2020 and see how it has performed so far and further legislative assistance that can be brought to bear in order to generate more revenue for the government.”
She added, “The DG of NIMASA is doing his best to ensure that he repositions the agency to make sure the Agency delivers on its core mandates. We will make sure we give the DG all the necessary support he needs because we have seen him moving towards the right direction and, most especially, he has made it clear to us that he wants to address insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea. The issue of security goes a long way to affect revenue generation in the maritime sector.”
Ikpeazu also disclosed that the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act Amendment Bill had gone through First Reading in the House of Representatives. She said the proposed amendment will reflect contemporary issues that would be beneficial to indigenous shipowners in the country.
“A more responsive Cabotage law will stimulate opportunities and policies for giving seafarers jobs and improve on shipbuilding capacity,” Ikpeazu stated.
Jamoh, in his response, said the agency will continue to seek the committee’s cooperation and support at all times.