The Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has inaugurated the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) enforcement boats, ferries, clinics, and administrative buildings to boost the maritime domain.
Sambo, during the inauguration in Lagos, said that the projects were part of the Federal Government’s commitment to good governance and institutionalized policies for an economic renaissance.
He added that the projects reinforce the Federal Government’s commitment to achieve and sustain safe, secure shipping and cleaner oceans.
“The projects will also enhance maritime capacity in line with the best global practices towards Nigeria’s economic development,” he said.
Sambo said the inaugurated five state-of-the-art enforcement platforms would ensure strict compliance and adherence with the extant laws governing the operations of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
“These platforms will give NIMASA the much-needed tools required to function as a maritime administration in line with the protocols and conventions of the International Maritime Organisation and International Labour Organisation.
“Additionally, we shall be commissioning four staff ferries meant to increase the overall efficiency and productivity of the staff of the agency.
“This is to create a more conducive means of transportation to and from official assignments, thereby bypassing the hassles that are associated with the operational terrain of the ports,” he said.
Other projects inaugurated by the minister include five new patrol/security boats, five refurbished search and rescue/pollution control boats, four staff ferries, a search and rescue clinic, and an administrative building.
Sambo said that as the supervisory ministry, it would continue to give support to NIMASA to ensure the growth of maritime in Nigeria.
Earlier, Dr Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of NIMASA, in his address said the new assets and building showed the Federal Government’s relentless and persistent commitment in the fight against maritime crime aimed at strengthening the Blue Economy.
Jamoh said that the Blue Economy was pivotal to the growth and development of the maritime and the nation in General.
He urged the officers that would be assigned to utilise the boats to bear in mind that they are national assets and to make the best use of them by ensuring proper maintenance.
