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Tag: Dakuku

  • Maritime University Will Fulfill Major Economic Dream for Nigeria – Dakuku

    Presidency: we’re walking the talk in Niger Delta

    NMU has shown capacity to play key role in global maritime – Sylva

    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, says the coming of the Nigeria Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, marks the launch of an institution of critical importance to the economic development of the country. Dakuku stated this at the weekend during the maiden matriculation of the university, held at its takeoff site at Kurutie, in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State.

    He said the school fulfilled for Nigeria a major economic dream of having an institution that would produce high-end manpower for its growing maritime industry, while helping to develop the locals and build lasting peace in the Niger Delta.

    The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, said the project was another demonstration of Niger Delta’s strategic importance to Nigeria. Osinbajo said it also showed how the Federal Government was “walking the talk in the Niger Delta.”

    Dakuku stated, “This is the fulfillment of a dream. Recall that many years ago, precisely in 2013, NIMASA initiated the idea of a Nigerian maritime university to fill a gap. We identified that if you want to grow your maritime industry, there are three important elements. One, is the asset, the vessel itself; the second one is the human capacity; the third is the supporting infrastructure. For all these three, the most important is the human element. And we clearly identified that fact that we are lagging behind in the human element and we needed to build capacity.

    “To build high-end capacity, we need our own maritime university. We were among the leading maritime nations without a maritime university. So today is the fulfillment of that great dream.”

    Dakuku commended the Federal Government’s financial commitments to the university, but said more needed to be done. “We appreciate the grant by the Federal Government to support the numerous grants given by NIMASA, acting also on behalf of the Federal Government. But, without a doubt, we need to put more money here because we need a lot of infrastructure apart from the human resource. We have a good number of professors. We need to put a lot of infrastructure in place,” he stated.

    He explained that NIMASA would intensify engagements with the Budget Office, Office of the Vice President, and other stakeholders on how to collaboratively fund the NMU.

    The DG added, “We are gradually repositioning this country to become a major hub for maritime activities. And when we say major hub for maritime activities, it is not just about trans-shipment or about shipment itself. It could be a hub just supplying manpower, supplying seafarers, doing insurance business or being in the business of ship finance. We are gradually becoming a hub, we are putting the right building blocks in place to make this country a hub for maritime activities and we would reap the benefits in a few years’ time.”

    The Vice President, who was represented by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Edobor Iyamu, said the commencement of academic activities at the premier maritime university in Nigeria was another example of how the President Muhammadu Buhari government was “walking the talk in the Niger Delta region, which is not being viewed in terms of its past, but in terms of its potential. And this is a potential that is not limited to oil and gas, but is actually focused on the development of the human capital. We are confident that the Niger Delta, sooner than later, would come to be defined not by crude oil, but by the quantum of its human resource.”

    In his own remarks, the Pro-Chancellor of the University and Chairman, Governing Council, Chief Timipre Sylva, commended NIMASA’s vision and support for the university, saying the institution has demonstrated capacity to play a key role in the global maritime industry. Sylva said, “NMU had shown great capacity for rapid growth and development, a defining characteristic of upward mobile organisations the world over.” He added, “We are fully persuaded that it is only a matter of time before this premier maritime university in Nigeria will play significant national, regional and global roles.”

    The Vice Chancellor of NMU, Professor Ongoebi Maureen Etebu, disclosed that the Federal Government had fully implemented the N3.4 billion takeoff grant for NMU in 2018 budget. Etebu, who appreciated NIMASA for initiating and encouraging the university, and the DG, Dr. Dakuku Peterside,added, “A maritime university is of strategic importance to the socio-economic growth of this country. Considering the enormous waterways of Nigeria, and the geographic, economic and security importance attached to these waterways, it is a wonder that our country waited for 58 years before birthing this institution.”

    NMU, which is solely owned by the Federal Government, started academic activities in April 2017. Last Saturday’s matriculation ceremony was a combined exercise for the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 students.

    Among dignitaries that attended the matriculation ceremony were Acting Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro; senator for Delta South, Senator James Manager; House of Representatives member for Eseodo/Ilaje Federal Constituency, Ondo State, Hon. Akinjo Kolade Victor; House of Representatives member, Burutu Federal Constituency, Delta State, Hon. Julius Gbabojor Pondi; representative of the National Universities Commission (NUC); and traditional rulers from Gbaramatu Kingdom.

     

  • NLNG/NIMASA: Dakuku hails Appeal Court judgement

    NLNG/NIMASA: Dakuku hails Appeal Court judgement

    …Affirms Agency’s Confidence in Judiciary

    The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has hailed the appeal court judgement in the case between the Agency and the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited over levies payable to the maritime regulator, saying it has reaffirmed confidence in the Judiciary.

    The Court of Appeal in Lagos on Friday set aside an earlier judgement of the Federal High Court, which had exempted NLNG from the levies, on the grounds that NIMASA was not given fair hearing at the lower court. Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, who delivered the judgement, ordered that the case be sent back to the high court for fresh trial under a different judge.

    Reacting to the ruling, Dakuku said NIMASA remained law abiding and will continue to work closely with the judiciary in matters that need clarity and interpretation.

    He said, “This judgement has further shown that the judiciary is unbiased and remains a beacon of hope for Nigerians. On our part as a responsible Government Agency, we will continue to work closely with the judiciary and other stakeholders to ensure that we realise our mandate of creating a robust maritime sector in line with best global practices.”

    Dakuku further stated, “NIMASA and NLNG are neither foes nor competitors. We are corporate cousins working together for the common good of our great country. Judgements like this only serve to strengthen our institutions and ensure greater bonding.”

    The Agency had in 2010 commenced an action against NLNG, wherein it sought for an interpretation of relevant provisions of the Nigerian LNG (Fiscal Incentives, Guarantees and Assurances) Act, CAP N87, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and the NIMASA Act of 2007. In January 2013, the action by NIMASA was withdrawn in a bid to amicably settle the dispute out of court.

    Consequently, in May 2013, NIMASA requested NLNG to pay all statutory Levies accruable to the Agency, including the 3% levy on gross freight on inbound and outbound international cargo, 2% Cabotage levy and Sea Protection levy, stating that the NLNG was not exempted from payments of statutory levies after its tax holiday ended many years ago. Following the continued disregard of the provisions the NIMASA Act and other relevant laws by the NLNG, their vessels were detained for non-compliance.

    Upon agreement between both parties, on July 12, 2013 before Honourable Justice Idris Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Lagos, NLNG agreed to pay outstanding levies attributable to the Free on Board (FOB) and cabotage vessels if the companies fail to make payment to NIMASA within 3 months from Friday July 12th 2013. The NLNG also agreed to continue to pay all applicable levies in line with the NIMASA mandate. The court order also gave NIMASA liberty to collect levies directly from Free on Board (FOB) and cabotage vessels without recourse to NLNG.

    In a surprising twist, the Agency received a pre-action Notice on the 18th of June 2013 from Counsel to NLNG, giving a thirty (30) days notice of their intention to commence legal action in accordance with Sections 53(2) of the NIMASA Act. Hearing of the substantive issue continues after which the Federal High Court ruled in favour of NLNG.

    Dissatisfied with the judgement of the Federal High Court by Justice M. B. Idris delivered in the case between NIMASA and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, (NLNG), the Agency appealed the matter in October, 2017.

    NIMASA action is in line with its enabling law, the NIMASA Act 2007. Section 15 (a) of that Act, stipulates, “The Agency shall be funded by monies accruing to the Agency from the following sources: 3 per cent of gross freight on all international inbound and outbound cargo from ships or shipping companies operating in Nigeria to be collected and paid over to the Agency to meet its operational cost.

    Section 2 (1) of NIMASA Act states, “This Act shall apply to ships, small ships and crafts registered in Nigeria and extended to ships, small ships and crafts flying a foreign flag in the Exclusive Economic Zone, Territorial and Inland Seas, Inland Waterways and in the Ports of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

     

     

  • I’m not behind arrest of Wike’s commissioner – Peterside

    I’m not behind arrest of Wike’s commissioner – Peterside

    The Deputy Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr Dakuku Peterside, has stated that he is not behind the arrest of Rivers Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, and he never led security personnel to pick Gogo-Jaja.

    He also described as reckless and baseless, the insinuations that he was planning to disrupt today’s governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers state.

    Peterside, who is also the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), stated this yesterday in an online statement by his media team.

    Governor Nyesom Wike’s education commissioner and his driver were arrested in Port Harcourt on Wednesday evening by troops of 6 Division, Nigerian Army, with incriminating items found on them.

    Gogo-Jaja, a former Majority Leader of Rivers House of Assembly, who hails from riverine Opobo, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers state, was arrested with his driver in his residence at Government Reservation Area (GRA), Phase 3, Port Harcourt, paraded at 6 division on Thursday and handed over to Rivers Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    Peterside, also an indigene of Opobo, the ancient Kingdom of the great King Jaja, noted that it was ridiculous for him to be accused by enemies of progress of distributing fake army uniforms, arms and ammunition to thugs, allegedly with the aim of disrupting today’s polls in Rivers.

    He insisted that he had been mobilising Rivers people ahead of Saturday’s elections and that only irresponsible people could have concocted the lies.

    The APC chieftain said: “Rivers people know me as a peaceful person. I am proud of my heritage and Opobo/Nkoro LGA’s people love me, because of my antecedents.

    “Associating me with evil deeds is not only reckless; it is the handiwork of jobless people and a jittery pay master who is afraid of his own past misdeeds.

    “Despite belonging to different political leaning, Gogo-Jaja remains my brother and friend. I have no reason to hurt or harm him. I will never be part of such plot.

    “I have never been associated with violence and would never support such. I am a man of peace and decent engagement. Only those who have skeletons in their cupboards are now looking for whom to pull down.”

    The NIMASA chief also called on Rivers people to ignore the fake stories, declaring that he had no reason to cause mayhem, while reiterating that he had always won his home LGA.

    Peterside pleaded with Rivers people to be peaceful ahead of Saturday’s polls and cooperate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies to ensure smooth elections.

  • [Interview] Rivers APC crisis, temporary setback – Dakuku

    [Interview] Rivers APC crisis, temporary setback – Dakuku

    INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF NIGERIAN MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND SAFETY AGENCY (NIMASA), DR. DAKUKU PETERSIDE, AT THE PORT HARCOURT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019.

    As the Deputy Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, are you comfortable with what is happening in the party now, especially the removal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of names of candidates of APC in Rivers State on the list of candidates that will vie during the February 16 and March 2 general elections?

    Politics is a process, it is not an event. It involves a number of activities and usually there will be an outcome. What is going on in the Rivers State APC is unfortunate, but it is part of the political evolution process. I am pained that it even happened in the first place, but I know that it is not the end in itself.

    What has happened in Rivers APC is some sort of temporary setback. I am optimistic that APC’s candidates will be on the ballot. I am very, very optimistic. I know that the judiciary is an important component of the political process. You cannot talk about politics, without talking about the judiciary and the roles of the judiciary, but my confidence is that ultimately, this issue will be resolved and APC’s candidates will be on the ballot, they will run the elections and Rivers people will have options. They will choose the candidates of APC above the other political parties.

    The other political party (Peoples Democratic Party) has disappointed Rivers people on all fronts. What the party (PDP) has done in the past three years and some months is to make more and more people lose confidence in the institution of government of Rivers State. They have embarked on outright lies, concocted stories and half truths. Rivers people are indeed tired of the mess. They cannot wait to get rid of the current government of Nyesom Wike. APC provides Rivers people the alternative, but unfortunately, we are going through our own challenges.

    Let me take advantage of this opportunity to plead with all members of APC to remain calm, confident, loyal and keep trusting the Almighty God. The end of this tortuous journey will come and it will be to God’s glory. All hope is not lost. Indeed, no hope is lost. One thing I am pretty sure of is that at the end of the tunnel, there is light and it will be to God’s own glory.

    We have embarked on series of engagements to get all the sides of the party and to get different interests in the party to understand that it is in our own interest to work together, that it is in our own interest to pursue the path of peace, unity and of course working for a common purpose. You cannot have a team, if you are not working for a common purpose. If you have persons working together at cross purposes, they will never achieve result.

    The only way to achieve result is when you work towards a common purpose. That actually makes you a team. We are a team of patriotic and progressive citizens of Rivers State, who want the best interest of Rivers State, as against our opponents in the other party (PDP), who are self-serving and usually pursuing their own narrow opportunistic interests.

    You are very close to Transportation Minister, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, a former Governor of Rivers State, who is the leader of APC in Rivers State and the South-South zone, but some members of your party in Rivers State are accusing him of being responsible for the crisis and that he should be blamed for the confusion. What is your reaction?

    It is not true that the Hon. Minister is responsible for the crisis. I do not believe that this is the time for blame game. A lot of things happened and blame game will not help us in any way. So, even as the leader of the party, it is wrong for me to join in the blame game.

    Depending on where you are standing, people accuse different individuals of being responsible. Some persons would say some persons are over ambitious outright and that because of their ambition, we are where we are. Some said some persons were uncooked in their language. Some accused the young people in the party of not handling their emotions with maturity.

    People have right to hold their opinions. You cannot hold it against anybody for holding an opinion. One thing that all of us have built consensus around and we are unanimous about is that there is a time for war and there is a time for peace. This is the time to ceasefire, engage with one another and to allow the common interest to prevail, over our narrow parochial interest.

    No man’s ambition should be superior to the collective interest of the party (APC) and Rivers people. Not mine, not anybody’s own. Nobody’s interest should be superior to the interest of the collective.

    So, I do not believe in the blame game. I do not support it. I will not embark on it. Rather, it is for all of us begin to engage with people. Let them see reason why we must all come to the table and agree on the best way forward and indeed work out a way forward, so that we will go and take over Government House, Port Harcourt from May 29, 2019 and begin to change the narratives in Rivers State.

    One of the governorship aspirants on the platform of APC in Rivers State, Senator Magnus Abe, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District, earlier stated that for peace to reign in Rivers APC, the governorship candidate of the party, Pastor Tonye Cole, must step down for him. Will the option actually ensure peace in the party, considering the fact that Rivers APC does not have candidates for the forthcoming general elections?

    It is not true. I have had cause to engage with Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and he could not have taken that position. I can say it on good authority that his minimum condition cannot be that Tonye Cole should step down for him to become the governorship candidate of APC in Rivers State. He has never said so. He realises the need for all of us to work together and I believe that reason will prevail at the appropriate time.

    Are there plans to settle out of court?

    All options are on the table. There is nothing anybody can rule out. What matters to all of us is the victory of APC in the elections and whatever needs to be done and whatever should be done will be done, to ensure that we all operate on the same frequency, to deliver the party (APC) in the elections.

    National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) elections are four weeks away, while the state’s elections are six weeks away. That is not a lot of time in politics. It is actually time to consolidate and get the buying-in of the people of Rivers State, get their support, coast home to victory and sing the victory song for the good of the people of Rivers State.

    Would members of Rivers APC have done things differently to get different result from the current situation?

    In all cases, there is always room to do things differently, even for the best of the best. There is no case where you have only one way of achieving result. So, it is possible that things could have been done differently and we would have got different outcome, but I do not think that is the issue now. We have gone past that stage.

    The issue is that there is critical need for all of us to come together to work towards a common purpose. There is the need for all of us to lay aside our different interests and the different weights that thus far oppress us.

    I want to reassure members of APC and indeed all Rivers people that the APC will be on the ballot, there is need for all of us to be calm, there is need for all of us to work together and there is need for us to remain confident of the judicial process, that it will turn out for our good, ultimately. Most importantly, beneath all of this is the need for unity and the need for us to work as a team. No one person can do it alone.

    Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, accused Transportation Minister (Amaechi) of being behind the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, with the intention to remove him for not supporting the APC and its candidates. Is it true?

    Nothing can be more spurious, laughable and childish than that statement by the governor of Rivers State. I am not taken aback at all, because the governor is known to promote lies as truth, he has also acquired the status of a pathological liar. Wike is a man who concocts stories, distorts facts and presents half-truths as the truth.

    In this specific instance, there is no iota of truth in it. Rt. Hon. Amaechi has absolutely no hand in the matter. He is not a judicial officer, he is not an intelligence officer and he does not work for any of the intelligence agencies. I cannot understand the connection between the work of the intelligence agencies, the anti-graft agencies and the judiciary. There is absolutely no iota of truth in it.

    Wike claimed that transportation minister had conversation with somebody that he (Amaechi) was behind the CJN’s travails. There is no truth in it. It is the trademark of Rivers governor to concoct stories. Rivers people and other Nigerians know Wike for who he is. So, I do not believe that anybody will take him seriously.

    As alleged by Governor Wike, is it really true that members and leaders of APC in Rivers State have Plan-B of working with the governorship candidate of Accord Party, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, who until about three months ago was a governorship aspirant on the platform of APC, in case you are not successful with the court cases?

    Wike is not a member of APC. Wike is not a member of our political family and he cannot be a member of our political family. When Rivers governor embarks on these kind of wild lies and baseless allegations, they ridicule him. There is no truth in having Plan-B or working with Dumo Lulu-Briggs.

  • 2019: Rivers APC Candidates will be on the ballot – Dakuku Peterside

    …Calls on APC members to remain calm

     

    The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has expressed the optimism that the governorship and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State will be on the ballot in the 2019 general election.

    Speaking to journalists on arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, Port Harcourt, Saturday, Dr. Dakuku Peterside said that the challenge the APC in the state is experiencing is temporary and will soon be a thing of the past.

    “I am very confident that APC governorship and other candidates will be on the 2019 election ballot. I know that the judiciary is an important component of the political process. You can’t talk about politics without talking about the judiciary or the role of the judiciary. So, my confidence is that ultimately this issue will be resolved, APC candidates will be on the ballot and run the election. And Rivers people will have options and I know that they will choose the candidates of the APC above the other political party.

    “You know that the other political party has disappointed Rivers people on all fronts. What they have done in the past three and half years is that they have made more and more people lose confidence in the institution of government of Rivers State. They have embarked on outright lies, concocted stories and half-truths and Rivers people are indeed tired of the mess. The people cannot wait to get rid of the current government in the state and APC provides them that alternative. But unfortunately, we are going through our own challenges.

    “Let me take advantage of this opportunity to appeal to all members of the APC to remain calm, confident, loyal and keep trusting the Almighty God. That the end of this tortuous journey will come and it will be to God’s glory. All hope is not lost; indeed no hope is lost. One thing I’m pretty sure of is that at the end of the tunnel there is light and it will be to God’s own glory.

    “We have embarked on series of engagements to get all sides of the party, to get different interests in the party to understand that it is in our collective interest to work together. It is in our interest to pursue the path of peace, unity and, of course, working for the common purpose. You cannot have a team if you are not working for a common purpose. If you have persons working at cross purposes you can never achieve results. That makes you a team and we are a team of patriotic and progressive citizens of Rivers State who want the best for our state as against our opponents in the other party who are self-serving and usually pursuing their own narrow opportunistic interests. That is where we are.

    “It is not true that the Honourable Minister is responsible for the crisis in our party. I don’t believe that this is the time for blame game. A lot of things happened and blame game will not help us in any way. Even as a leader of the party, it is wrong for me to join in the blame game,” Dr. Peterside declared.

  • Dakuku reassures International Community of security on Nigerian waters

    Dakuku reassures International Community of security on Nigerian waters

    …Meets Korean Ambassador on Maritime Development
     
    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has assured seafarers and other members of the international community of the country’s continued efforts to ensure our waters are safer for navigation.
    Dakuku said this in Lagos when the Consular-General of the Korean Embassy in Nigeria, His Excellency, Kim In-Taek, paid him a courtesy visit at the NIMASA headquarters.

    The Director-General who was responding to concerns raised by the Consular-General about the recent hijack of MV. Glarus, stated, “Nigeria is totally committed to the safety of all vessels that come on its coastal waters. Efforts have been doubled to ensure that vessels calling at Nigerian ports are safe and secure by investing even more in surveillance to guaranty safety of vessels. NIMASA is working closely with the Nigerian Navy and the National Intelligence Agency”.
    He noted that Nigeria was expected to witness a drastic drop in maritime crimes with the additional security measures being put in place by the agency, saying the country ultimately aims to completely rid its coastal waters of pirates and other criminals.

    On strengthening the relationship between Nigeria and Korea, Dakuku said Nigeria was taking steps to establish new synergies with other countries and further existing ones, such as its relations with Korea. He said Nigeria cherished its relationship with Korea and encouraged a mutually beneficial working relationship between both countries in ship building, shipping development as well as human capacity development and other aspects of the maritime industry.
    It should be noted that the Dr. Dakuku Peterside led NIMASA has always advocated local and foreign collaborations in growing the Nigerian maritime sector. This move is seen as a milestone in partnering with the Koreans who are known for Shipbuilding and repairs.
    Worthy of note also was when the Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Jens Kjemprud visited the Agency to seeks partnership especially as it concerns the fishing aspect of maritime which Norway is reputed for.

  • Cabotage: No more waivers, Dakuku tells oil companies

    …Charges IOCs to Play Their Part in Industry Growth
    …Says Agency Ready to Enforce Strict Compliance to Regulations
    The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has said the Agency will no longer encourage the application of any form of waivers under the Cabotage Act, particularly from the oil firms operations as such does not help the growth of the Nigerian maritime sector and economy at large.
    Speaking during a meeting with the Oil Producers Trade Sector (OPTS) in Lagos, Dakuku said NIMASA was on the verge of ending such waivers. He urged industry players to draw up a five-year strategic plan for the cessation of application for Cabotage waiver and also pursue the utilization of Nigerian-owned vessels for marine contracts.
    According to him, “Our laws forbid foreign vessels operating in our territorial waters save for compliance with the Cabotage Act. We also want to increase the number of Nigerians who participate in the marine aspect of your business and we are working closely with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to have a joint categorization of vessels operating under the Cabotage Act in order to ensure the full implementation of the Act.”
    Dakuku urged the international oil companies (IOCs) to support NIMASA’s bid to ensure full implementation of the Act, adding that it would equally be of more benefit to the investors in the sector as it will be cost effective for them to engage Nigerians.
    Commenting on the previous resolutions with the OPTS, Dakuku stated that there was need for the trade section of the oil producers to fulfill their own part of the agreement. He said NIMASA will not compromise the growth of the maritime sector, especially when it comes to the issue of enforcing statutory regulations enshrined in the Agency’s empowering instruments.
    Dr. Dakuku further stated that in NIMASA’s bid to grow the industry, it would not hesitate to wield its powers where necessary, adding that the agency’s mandate is strictly regulatory. But he also noted that NIMASA preferred the method of engaging key players in the industry for symbiotic benefits.
    “We don’t want to change our rules of engagement to a confrontational one because the mandate we have is that of the Nigerian people, to grow shipping for our economic benefits. In this wise, we urge you to cooperate and collaborate with us where necessary so that we can have an all-inclusive maritime sector,” the Director-General stated.
    Dakuku said the Agency was taking necessary steps to ensure that there were no gaps in the sector, especially as it concerns needed human capacity. He said the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), which is an interventionist programme of the Agency, was making serious headway in creating sea time for the over 2,000 graduates of the programme.
    In his own remarks, the Executive Director of OPTS, which comprises major oil companies, Bunmi Toyobo, said the trade section was ready to comply with all directives of NIMASA. He said the information required by the Agency to build and harmonise its data for better regulation of the sector will be provided by OPTS.
    The meeting, which was well attended by OPTS, had managing directors and representatives of major oil firms, including Total, Exxon Mobil, Shell, and Agip amongst others.

  • We Are Committed To Repositioning NIMASA –Dakuku

    We Are Committed To Repositioning NIMASA –Dakuku

    The Director-General, of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has stressed that the Board and the entire management of the Agency are committed to ensuring that the Agency responds to its core mandate of advancing Nigeria’s global maritime goals.

    Dr Peterside, who stated this at a media chat in Port Harcourt at the weekend, stressed that the efforts have attracted commendations from various sections of the country including the Federal Executive Council who are fully committed to the new drive of the Country’s foremost maritime administration, noting however that they would not relent in the efforts to make Nigeria a leading maritime nation.

    According to him, “we are putting a lot of structures in place to ensure the Agency remains on a sound footing and our efforts have attracted commendation from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and stakeholders within and outside the maritime sector. We can only get better in our determination to make the Agency perform the functions for which it was set up and make it the leading maritime administration in Africa. This is why we are continuously working hard and poised to making Nigerians reap the benefits of the sector” he said.

    Speaking further the NIMASA DG said that the transformation of the Agency has been phenomenal in terms of repositioning and revenue generation, stating that NIMASA is among the top five agencies contributing to the coffers of the Federal Government.

    Dr. Peterside further said that NIMASA was working continuously in collaboration with relevant security agencies to ensure the protection of Nigerian waterways and by extension the Gulf of Guinea.

    He particularly commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to the maritime sector by giving the needed support to carry out reforms, policies and programmes that have had tremendous impacts on the fortunes of the industry.

    On the recent boat mishaps around the country and Rivers state in particular, he expressed sadness over the incidents but was quick to add that NIMASA would work with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to promote safety and safer ways of water transportation. He then promised to personally donate 1,000 life jackets to jetty operators in Rivers State as a way of promoting safety consciousness.

    It should be noted that the Agency recently reinforced its commitment to safety of lives and properties in the maritime sector and this was evident by the shutting down of some facilities by the Agency for not conforming to the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

     

     

  • NIMASA to release Nigeria Maritime Industry Forecast by first quarter 2018 – Dakuku

    As part of the initiative to reposition the maritime sector for greater efficiency in line with International best practices, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will release the empirical forecast that will determine the outlook of the industry in Nigeria by the first quarter of 2018.

    The Director General of NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside who disclosed this in Lagos recently further stated that the Nigeria forecast will deal with how developments on the international scene will affect the industry in Nigeria, which will also serve as a guide for investors and Stakeholders in the maritime sector.

    Dr. Peterside noted that the forecast will be released from a holistic perspective in order to know areas of advantage that will be of immense benefit to Stakeholders and industry players, both locally and internationally.

    In his words, “on the positive side it will look at where the opportunities will be in the year 2018 & 2019; will greater investment in oil and gas translate to more demand for offshore support vessels? What are the industry perspectives? What government and her agencies should do to attract more investment in the industry amongst other salient issues.”

    Furthermore, the NIMASA DG noted that the maritime industry forecast will also look at whether there will be improvement in maritime security especially in the Niger Delta and what impact it will have on shipping; The expected impact of NIMASA’s partnership with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Cabotage implementation and international shipping will be another area the forecast will focus on. The various projected impact of shift to digital shipping in Nigeria and its attendant effect on Nigerian shippers will also be analyzed in details.

    Dr. Peterside also noted that the maritime forecast to be released by NIMASA will look at the impact of global emphasis on Blue Economy and how Nigerians can benefit from it.

    In the area of capacity building the DG pointed out that the effect on the industry will be considered as two new specialized Universities; Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko and the Admiralty University are expected to begin academic calender next year, in addition to an already repositioned Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

    Other areas of focus in then forecast includes; the government decision on investment status in port and maritime infrastructure, the impact of emphasis on reduction on environmental footprint arising from shipping.

    From the regulatory perspective it will also consider the impact on coming into force of the Ballast Water Management Convention, International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) mandatory compliance, among other conventions and regulations. The most likely impact of greater safety compliance enforcement by the Maritime administration of Nigeria will also be on the front burner in the report.

    On the market side, Dr. Peterside posited that it will analyze how demand and supply will evolve in the industry. “This report will be the most informative documentation on the future of the maritime industry in Nigeria”.

    The 2018 Nigerian maritime industry forecast is a set of predictions based on study of trends and patterns and it is intended to serve as a guide for investors and stakeholders in the industry.

  • No maritime sector without seafarers – Dakuku

    No maritime sector without seafarers – Dakuku

    …As the World marks Seafarers Day

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) has joined the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of the Seafarer with the Director General, Dr Dakuku Peterside averring that there can be no maritime sector without the seafarers.

    Speaking during a joint visit to the Apapa port in Lagos with members of the National Seafarers Welfare Board, Dr Dakuku stated that seafarers are indispensable in realising a virile maritime sector globally.

    Accordingly, he assured them of the Agency’s unflinching support to the welfare of seafarers in line with a Decent Work Agenda and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.

    “Let me assure you of our commitment to a better condition of living for the seafarers and our resolve to continue to engage in human capacity development so that you can also compete favourably with your counterparts internationally. Your challenges are our challenges just as your successes are our successes; we are together in the Voyage of steering the ship of the Nigerian maritime sector to greater heights in line with global best practices” the DG assured.

    The DG who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communications of the Agency, Mr Isichei Osamgbi also used the opportunity to call on Stakeholders and maritime labour employers to ensure that the welfare of seafarers is topmost in their priority.

    Speaking further, the DG called on relevant partners in maritime industry to join hands in implementing all instruments relating to the welfare of seafarers in line with global best practices, especially to ensure achievement of the Federal Government’s policy on “Ease of Doing business” in the country.

    This year’s event with its theme “Seafarers Matter” is aimed at demonstrating the importance of the seafaring profession to the growth and development of the maritime sector globally and to mark the day in Nigeria, NIMASA visited seafarers on board some vessels; MV BALTIC PANTHER, AFRICA GLORY, GOLDEN EAGLE, and ASIA PEARL VII amongst others, where they were received by their respective Masters and Captains. The Seafarers thanked the Agency for aligning with the international maritime community to mark the day; and for coming to felicitate with them.

    Day of the Seafarer (DotS) was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers. Its stated purpose is to recognise the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the globe to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole.

    The resolution “encourages Governments, shipping organisations, companies, shipowners and all other parties concerned to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer and take action to celebrate it profoundly.

    It is noteworthy that the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has set aside 25th of June every year to commemorate seafarers worldwide. Nigeria will be commemorating the day proper, with an event slated to hold on June 29, 2017 in Onne, Rivers State.