The New Experience Newspapers Online News Indepth, Analysis and More
The executive Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMAS(NIMASA) to relocate its Cabotage Services Department to Port Harcourt.
The Governor charged the Director-General of The agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh visited him at Government House, in the State Capital
Wike said operations of the Cabotage Services Departments of NIMASA used to be in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but it was relocated to Apapa in Lagos.
Wike, said in spite of his administration’s procurement of gunboats for security agencies, especially the Police Andrew Navy to assist in the fight against piracy and ensure safety on the waterways for NIMASA businesses to thrive, the state did not get anything in return for his effort.
The Governor commended Jamoh for the initiative aimed at harnessing ocean resources as alternative revenue source that would end the country dependence on oil and gas.
He pledged to partner the agency in human capital development and assured that he would consider adopting the Government Sea School, Isaka as an institution for the training of seafarers.
Wike also expressed willingness of the state government to partner with NIMASA on its Deep Blue Project because of its potential to enhance and increase youth capacity in Rivers State, adding that the state government would settle up a committee to liaise with NIMASA office in Port Harcourt on the project.
The Governor lamented the failure of Minister of Transportations, Chibuike Amaechi to leverage on his position to revive the Port Harcourt and Onne ports to generate employment for people of Rivers State, particularly the youth in the industry.
Speaking,DG NIMASA Dr Bashir Jamoh said the agency’s new thinking was in paying attention to divesting the country’s economy with its 10-year plan to develop ocean resources in Nigeria
The DG further Stated that his tour to the eight littoral state’s of which Rivers is a part was intended to sell the new thinking to them and the need to key into the initiative.
He urged the Rivers State Government to set up a committee to work with the agency in identifying its areas of comparative advantage in the office Maritime sector.
