Maritime
MARITIME SECURITY: Nigerian Navy Pledges Support For NIMASA
The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla has paid a working visit to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), as part of efforts to deepen the cooperation between the Navy and the Agency for sustainable security in the Nigerian maritime domain.
Vice Admiral Ogalla acknowledged efforts of the Agency in implementing both national and international regulatory instruments to improve safety and security in the maritime domain, adding that the Nigerian Navy under his leadership was committed to supporting NIMASA to succeed.
He said, “I want to appreciate NIMASA for the collaboration with the Nigerian Navy which is to achieve a common goal of better securing the Nigerian maritime domain, thus promoting an enabling environment for business to thrive with a multiplier effect of improved contributions to the Gross Domestic Product from the maritime industry.
“Our role as prescribed by the Armed Forces Act is for the Navy to coordinate the enforcement of all marital laws associated with Nigeria. We will support you at NIMASA to succeed”.
The Chief of the Naval Staff also commended the Agency’s implantation of the Cabotage Act and the C4i center of the Deep Blue Project.
“I acknowledge the efforts of NIMASA in the implementation of the Cabotage Law for the benefit of indigenous players in the industry. We will also improve our support so the Cabotage regime can succeed.
“The NIMASA C4i center, which is a maritime domain awareness facility, is useful to the Nigerian Armed Forces including the Nigerian Police. I will visit the facility today and our focus is better cooperation and information sharing.”
On his part, the Director General, NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola acknowledged the role the Nigerian Navy has played over the years in supporting NIMASA to implement her mandates.
Dr. Mobereola used the opportunity to assure the Navy of the continuous support of the Agency, noting that it will be to the overall benefit of the country.
He also assured the CNS that the Agency would look into more areas of partnership with the Navy, while also seeing the possibility of reviewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Navy and NIMASA.
“Your visit today personally to NIMASA is a confirmation of your commitment to the NIMASA/Nigerian Navy collaboration. I must acknowledge the role of the Nigerian Navy in the NIMASA journey so far. Nigeria’s attainment of zero piracy report in recent times is a result of the support of the Navy. Security is key to unlocking the nation’s maritime potentials, as a well-secured maritime domain will be a catalyst to attract foreign investment into Nigeria. On the MoU, we are with you in reviewing it and making it more effective taking into consideration the reality on ground. We want to sustain our zero piracy status”, the DG said.
The NIMASA boss also hailed the recent addition of 20 nautical miles to Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic zone, stating that it calls for more responsibility for both the Navy and the Agency.
The Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola has deposited three Instruments of Accession to IMO Conventions signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the global body.
He did so on Tuesday, at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which acts as the repository for these conventions.
This move, coming a few weeks after Nigeria declared its intention to contest election for a seat on the IMO Council, is expected to enhance Nigeria’s maritime governance and align its practices with international standards, promoting maritime safety, security, and environmental protection.
Shortly after the presentation ceremonies, Oyetola informed the IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, of the President’s commitment to ensuring that Nigeria aligns with international maritime standards regarding maritime safety, security, and sustainable marine practices.
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He also called on the IMO to extend technical support to Nigeria.
In his words, “These instruments, duly acceded by His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, signify Nigeria’s continued commitment to aligning with international maritime standards, ensuring maritime safety and security, and promoting sustainable marine practices.
“We hereby request tailored technical cooperation under the Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) to enhance Nigeria’s compliance with IMO conventions and improve our maritime governance and implementation of the instruments we submitted today.”
On his part, Dominguez, acknowledged with appreciation the formal deposition of the Instruments of Accession, stating that it underscores Nigeria’s steadfast commitment to aligning with global maritime standards.
“I congratulate Nigeria for its exceptional efforts in acceding to these six critical IMO instruments. I encourage continued momentum by securing presidential assent to additional key conventions. We at the IMO remains fully committed to supporting Nigeria through technical cooperation and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the successful implementation of these instruments,” he stated.
The instruments Oyetola handed over to Dominguez include the instrument of accession to the 2005 Protocol to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (SUA Protocol 2005), the instrument of accession to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), and the instrument of accession to the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances Other Than Oil (Intervention Protocol 1973).
It was gathered that three other Instruments of Accession signed by President Tinubu are undergoing further steps to complete the processes for their deposit.
Funds accrued under the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) are intact and currently held with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Single Treasury Account (TSA).
This assertion was made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), in a statement in Lagos on Tuesday.
The clarification became necessary to address “a misleading publication alleging that funds have disappeared from the CVFF account”.
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The statement reads, in part, “The report of a missing money is both misleading and false.
“For the record, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, securely held in the NIMASA account at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), remains intact. There has been no disappearance of funds, and no illegal transactions, as the article suggests. This misinformation is a figment of the authors imagination, aimed at undermining NIMASA’s integrity, and mislead the public about the Agency’s operations.
“The Management of NIMASA will ensure that the CVFF is utilised in line with its statutory purpose. NIMASA Director General, Dr Mobereola has assured stakeholders of the safety of funds under the CVFF.”
The statement cited the DG thus, “Let us be clear that the CVFF account at the Central Bank of Nigeria is safe, intact, and secure. We at NIMASA will continue to manage it with the utmost responsibility, and there are no irregularities or illegal activities surrounding the funds. I urge the public to disregard this false narrative and to continue trusting the Agency’s ability to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s maritime sector”.
It was gathered that the CVFF is a fund established under section 42 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity and to provide credit facilities to local maritime operators.
The NIMASA, assured of its commitment “to transparency, accountability, and the advancement of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo appears eager to deliver the dividends of democracy to his constituents.
This is discernible from the frenzy of activities being witnessed in his first few days on the job, including dissolution of boards, constitution of investigative panels, flagging off of infrastructure projects, among others.
In the bid to address the perennial road traffic congestion negatively impacting economic and social activities in Benin City, the state capital, Gov Okpebholo on Wednesday flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge.
Biztellers reports that the flyover bridge around the popular Ramat Park in the city centre is the first of such in the history of Edo State.
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The Edo State Government made the disclosure in its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Wednesday.
It wrote, “Traffic decongestion: Gov Okpebholo flags off first flyover in Edo.
“Edo State Governor, Sen. Monday Okpebholo has flagged off the construction of a flyover bridge at Ramat Park, Benin City, the State Capital, as part of immediate efforts to reduce traffic congestion in the city.”
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