The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has declared Nigeria’s maritime sector as one of the fastest-growing on the African continent.
Speaking during an interactive session with the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and Chief Executive Officers of government agencies in the maritime sector, Dr. Jamoh emphasized the pivotal role of collaboration and peer review exercises in achieving this remarkable progress.
NIMASA, under Dr. Jamoh’s leadership, has actively engaged in collaboration and peer review exercises with other maritime administrations both within Africa and globally. Dr. Jamoh explained, “We regularly undertake peer review exercises amongst maritime Administrations not just on the African continent, but globally. We have learnt a lot from reviews with the South African Maritime Administration (SAMSA) and Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). We have also provided mentorship for maritime administrations on the African continent.”
According to him, countries such as Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Ghana have sought mentorship from NIMASA on various maritime issues, including Port and Flag State Administration, and the SPOMO Act.
Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, highlighted the importance of the interactive session in aligning the legislature and implementing organs of government to maximize the benefits of the blue economy for Nigerians. He commended the Federal Government, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for their commitment to reviving the economy, citing the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy as a testament to the opportunities within the marine and blue economy sector.
The Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Commodore Emmanuel Duja Effedua, expressed his appreciation for NIMASA’s instrumental role in transforming the academy into a global leader. Effedua noted that MAN Oron now boasts state-of-the-art training equipment for seafarers, thanks to NIMASA’s commitment to funding the academy.
The Senate Committee on Marine Transport is currently in Lagos as part of their oversight functions to receive briefings from various parastatals under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, including NIMASA, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN), and Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.
