TRANSPORT MINISTER COMMISSIONS NIMASA ENFORCEMENT BOATS, SEARCH AND RESCUE BASE CLINIC AMONGST OTHER FACILITIES By Edward Osagie

TRANSPORT MINISTER COMMISSIONS NIMASA ENFORCEMENT BOATS, SEARCH AND RESCUE BASE CLINIC AMONGST OTHER FACILITIES
By Edward Osagie

-NIMASA committed to a sustainable maritime leadership role in Africa-Jamoh.

The Minister of Transportation, Engineer Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, in Lagos, commissioned five enforcement boats and four ferries for the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA staff. Also commissioned were newly acquired gadgets to enhance communication between NIMASA operational base and vessels in Nigerian waters, an ultra-modern Search and Rescue Base clinic located in Apapa, the newly developed multipurpose hall and an administrative block for the Agency in its Kirikiri operational base.

While commending the Dr Jamoh-led administration at NIMASA for the achievements, the Honorable Minister noted that the new facilities would have tremendous positive impacts on the Agency and the entire blue economy of Nigeria especially as the nation seeks more vibrant ways of diversifying its economy.

His words: “Maritime remains the catalyst for our growth as a country and we must do all we can to ensure the sector remains viable for investors. Suppose we want to benefit from the potential of our blue economy. In that case, we must be able to reinvent the wheel in such a manner that would boost the confidence of foreign and local investors in our maritime domain and these projects are laying credence to our efforts. It is our belief that our efforts to bring these projects to fruition would have made significant positive impacts on the decisions of investors in our maritime sector.”

“Specifically talking about enforcement boats, I am aware of the impact these boats would have on the regulatory mandate of NIMASA. It is expected that those who have plans of carrying out nefarious acts in our maritime domain would have a rethink because NIMASA now has additional platforms to enforce compliance with its regulations. This will further enhance security in our domain in order for maritime businesses to thrive.”

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, OFR, said that the newly commissioned assets would ensure Nigeria’s Maritime Administration sustains its leadership role in the maritime sector of Africa, ensuring that the impact of its maritime security architecture is felt in the Gulf of Guinea and the entire African naval domain.

Jamoh noted that the investment in the communication gadgets alongside the enforcement boats will not only add more value to our maritime security architecture but also enhance NIMASA’s primary role of Port and Flag State Administration, adding that the Search and Rescue Base Clinic (SARBC) was to meet basic requirements of the IMO since Nigeria is host to the Regional Maritime Rescue  Coordination Center for the West and Central Africa Region.

Edward Osagie is the Head of Public Relations at NIMASA