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Cabotage Law is fully effective in Nigeria and has created thousands of Jobs-NIMASA DG

Published

9 years ago

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NIMASA DG, Patrick Akpobolokemi

NIMASA DG, Patrick Akpobolokemi

Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi during the  Question and Answer session of the World Press Conference organized by his Agency in Lagos shed lights on the Agency’s activities in the Nigerian Maritime sector over the last four years, claiming that the Cabotage Act is in full effect in Nigeria and has even created thousands of jobs for Nigerians .  Kunle Kalejaye was there to capture his response for BIZTELLERS.
Excerpts:
 ‎Was it all rosy for NIMASA in 2014?
 
I don’t even like an easy life. When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I pray for is that may the day be very difficult because out of a rough sea you will make a good captain.
When you lay things on a plater of gold, you cannot conquer things you even envisage. If you have children and everything is at their disposal, money food, cloths house, they will not appreciate what you are doing and will not understand what is life. The time they will understand what life is all about is when you are no more there to provide for them.
So the training I have is to take life as a difficult place we have come in and actually life is a difficult place. Even in our own individual life’s you will have challenges even if God speaks to us directly or loves us best, we will have challenges.
So if you come into a maritime administration as NIMASA and you think it is going to be easy it’s not possible. You see people who are stealing oil and you confront them, you think it will be easy? You see people in organised piracy, sea robbery, kidnapping in the water ways and you think it will be easy? You see people who don’t want to conform to vessles regulation, you see the bureaucracy of getting things to work. Nothing can be easy!
But the thing is that you must not give in to fear, you must have a goal and ask God for support. The most important thing is the purity of your intention that is going to save you. If your intentions are not pure God will see you ‎no matter how you want to hide.
So it has been very challenging but we are making unusual gains out of the difficult situations. The maritime administration has stayed for so long, why is that it is just in the past four years that we are talking about domain awareness? Satelite? Radial? Patrol boat?
These things comes with too much trouble but the troubles are also our inspirations and your prayers are also the thing making us to succeed. Your quite time of prayer goes a long way to help us because only one of the problem is enough to give anybody high blood pressure but we thank God none of us has high blood pressure because you are all praying for us and our intentions even though we make mistakes are not inpure.
Kindly tell us the number of jobs created under the CABOTAGE act?  
 
I know that thousand of jobs are created but to pin it to a precise number as we speak is difficult now. However, after now we can speak with the CABOTAGE unit to give us the number of jobs created under the CABOTAGE regime, there is nothing hidden about it. But I know that we have created thousand of jobs.
These are not things that we have to go to the street to be telling people. When oil companies now do advert, they will mention that ‘Adherence to the CABOTAGE Act’ is mandatory.
Why the delay for a National Carrier?
 
I appreciate the anxiety because if I was in your shoes, that is what I will do to the DG, asking him how many jobs have been created under the CABOTAGE act? Why the delay for a National Carrier?
In the first four years, the efforts put in place have not materialised into practical reality that will enable us have a national carrier but we are setting the foundation for it
We equally know that the areas we are lacking is too much and we are taking them one at a time and it is becoming too difficult.
Right now as we speak a committee on National Carrier has been constituted, a blue print is been worked upon which we want the government to address and we will not allow government at all level to rest until they given us what Nigerians are asking for.
So by the next four years of this regime, a national carrier will come. Therefore I appreciate your anxieties, your feelings about it because it is a constructive way to think.
How many vessels has been attacked under your watch?
 
‎What I know is that in the last one month plus the number of vessels attacks we have stopped in Lagos area alone and the number of pirate in our custody is alarming. None of them succeeded, some of them have been handed over to the navy, and civil defence for persecution. Some of the vessels are in our custody.
If any pirate wants to attack any vessel in Lagos, it will take the grace of God for them to succeed because while they are planning to attack the vessel, we are already aware of it and ready to strike them.
Besides the satellite, we have other mode of operation that we can use to get these people. If you kidnap we will go after you! That is why we are saying that people should not pay ransom for hostages to be released. We have to go after them and crush them. We will all die some day and that is the truth about the matter. It is either we die in the hands of pirate or in the hands of robbers or in our sleep or sickness or without any cause, everybody will die at some point in time.
So the issue of fear to approach pirate or afraid  ‎one kidnappers should not be there. They use to text me but I will reply them that we are coming after them and will crush them.
We must fearlessly approach any person that is causing us problems. For pirate in Lagos area cannot operate because before they go out, we crush them and we are going to sustain that. If I tell you the number of vessels that we have arrested including pirates and areas we have conqured in collaboration with JTF alone, you will be surprise.
Why are wrecks still in Lagos waterway?
 
Government has awarded contract to remove wrecks in all our maritime domain. They have started and by the grace of God, the wrecks are going to be removed. The first phase of the job has been awarded in the Southern areas, in Lagos among others.
Let me tell you something, You will issue marine notice 20 times to tell people to remove their wrecks but nobody will show up but the day you want to remove their wrecks that has been abandoned for fives years suddenly you will see the crew. The next day they have gone to court to get injunction. Am telling you what is happening.
We have so many court cases against us to remove wrecks. We have the mandate to remove these wrecks but if I tell you the number of litigation against us. That is to tell you that we must change our ways.
Somebody’s wrecks that is negative in terms of money will go court and say that it is $10 billion meanwhile the actual cost of the vessel might not be up to $1 million. After using the it for 20 years and abandon it he is coming to ask for $10 billion ‎compensation. That is the true situation.
Help to educate our people because wrecks can cause navigation problem, criminals hide there and that is why some don’t want us to remove it because criminals are helping them do their biding.
How many Nigerians have benefited from Seafarers program?
Over 2,500 of them. We have two windows , the first window is state and NIMASA partnership. From the MoU we have with the various state, we contribute 40 percent they contribute 60 percent but we contribute far beyond 40 percent because the traveling expenses, medical fee, feeding, accommodation etc of the seafarers are taken care of by NIMASA.
However, some states refused to partner but we created another window that is the one that is addressed as first aid participation and the number is very few. Therefore, the bulk of the over 2,500 seafarers are NIMASA full time training, full time scholarship. We spend billions of naira yearly for this training. 
 
How many arrest and persecution of sea pirate and oil theft have been executed?
I must be honest with you, persecution is a major problem. If I tell you that we have been successful in persecution, am not telling you the truth. To implement the laws of this country is a major problem.
When you take a pirate to court, in the next one hour you see him sending a text that is his back and is going to deal with you‎. Sometimes is it very sad when I think of things like this.
It is not about what we can do because there is separation of powers. What the law say we cannot do, we cannot do!
Because of this issue of persecution, we assembled judges and appealed to them to look into cases of pirates. If someone steals crude oil and is jailed for six months or one year, it will serves as a big discouragement to others not to do the same thing. But after 24 hours you will see the theft calling you that he is back!
It is a major problem for us and it is not what we can fix single handedly rather all of us must come and find a solution.
Our job is to arrest sea pirates, crude oil theft and present them to the court but what happens thereafter, I don’t know the magic.
Why has CABOTAGE not being enforced?
 
If people think we have not being enforcing CABOTAGE, No! That is not the situation. For Nigerians to get the job, we had two meetings with all the oil majors, we came up with some resolutions, we have subcommittees and we told them that Nigerians must get the cargo, Nigerians must get the job.
 So the sub-committees have started their job, we have met with  the oil majors and in January, 2015, reports will be submitted then all parties will jointly agree and we will call the private sector to come and listen to us and make input to the implementation of the CABOTAGE regime.
When NIMASA detains a vessel for none compliance with Cabotage Act, we will give you a detention order and tell you what and what you have done. Some will evade our taxes and the rest of them and then begin to cry foul.
Some will want to link us with politics and the rest but we are not politicians, we are doing our job. If you violate our laws  ‎irrespective of your political affiliation the first thing we will do is to detain your vessel, take you to the court, if you bribe your way out of court, well that is your luck!
We have to do our job and leave posterity to judge if we did our own part of the bargain or not. We are going to go after them, the OPTS is already working with us with the purpose to implement the Cabotage  regime and other necessary business.
Once we are through with all the resolution and the rest of them, we will invite the press and tell them that this is the communique that has been agreed on, this is the timeline for ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, waver conditions etc.
I have personally written to oil companies to give jobs to Nigerians when they have vessels. No matter tight my schedule is, I have personally gone to inspect some of these vessels and I have written to so many companies saying “this vessel by the estimate or by the assertion of management meets the requirement of the Cabotage law…..and on no condition should this job be given to any foreigner.”
I have written so many of these letters and many Nigerians have gotten jobs but I will not come and announce this kind of thing.
Once you draw my attention that you have these vessels, just give me the information and that oil company will not move if they like take me anywhere.
If I don’t fight them, I can be removed before the time God prescribe for me in this job so the best thing is to prepare to fight for Nigerians. When someone brings in a vessel that Nigerians can do whereas our boys are not working, there is unemployment, there is crime, and will sit down comfortably and allowe these kind of things to happen. No it can’t happen.
So we will go after them one after the other and ask them if they are CABOTAGE compliance? If no, what are the reasons? If it is something that is exceptionally difficult for us to handle at that time, we will now look into the problem.
Since the inception of this agency, there has never been this kind of enforcement of regulation before. The only difficult aspect of the CABOTAGE law that we have not been able to implement is the distribution of CVFF but in terms of employment, the crew and the jobs, I have personally being signing them.
When people write letters that they have vessels, I personally go to inspect them and I tell them on no account should job be given to a foreigners because these  Nigerians ‎have gone to collect heart breaking loans from Nigeria banks and if you don’t give the person job is it not hypertension you want to give to him?
And when the person gets the job, is it not Nigerians that he is going to to employ? Do I have a farm where I will employ all Nigerians? This is the only way to go but it will come with so much bad name. That is the truth but it is you the press that will help us
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Maritime

IMO Secretary General Congratulates NIMASA DG, Assures Support

Published

4 weeks ago

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April 11, 2024

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The Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez has congratulated the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

This was contained in a conveyance letter he personally signed, in which he acknowledged the strides of the Agency in building a robust maritime sector in Nigeria.

According to Dominguez, the IMO commends the significant effort, initiatives, and investment that Nigeria has made in strengthening its maritime institutions.

In the words of Dominguez, “the focus on strengthening maritime law enforcement and security architecture has been welcomed by seafarers and flag States. The Deep Blue project and the C4i Centre as well as maritime piracy laws under the SPOMO Act are just some of the many investments that have set a new gold standard in the region in maritime security capacity building.

“IMO has long supported the regional role of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct and its Member States in strengthening maritime security and law enforcement. In this respect, we have been greatly encouraged with the continuation of this regional ownership with the formation and work of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum and Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GoG-MCF/SHADE) in 2021”.

He commended the Agency’s partnership with the various regional bodies, and expressed readiness of the IMO to work with Nigeria and other member states on many maritime issues with the aim of jointly tackling these issues.

“NIMASA’s partnership with the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) and the collaboration with the shipping industry, navies and the Yaoundé architecture has been instrumental in suppressing the threat of piracy to merchant vessels and seafarers in line with UN Security Council resolution 2634 (2022) on piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Guinea and IMO Assembly resolution A.1159 (32).

“I look forward to working with you and your colleagues on many of the maritime issues that we are jointly tackling and hope to welcome you in person at the IMO,” he added.

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Maritime

New NIMASA DG Promises Purpose-Driven Organisation, Effective Communication

Published

1 month ago

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March 24, 2024

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The newly appointed Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola says the Agency’s Management under his leadership will build a purpose driven organisation.

He also promised prioritising effective communication at all levels to enhance innovation, collaboration and synergy.

Biztellers reports that he made the assertion in his maiden address on his assumption of duty, where he also noted that the Agency under his leadership would prioritize safety, security, efficiency, environmental sustainability amongst others.

He said, “We must strive to foster innovation and excellence in everything we do. The maritime industry is constantly evolving, driven by technological advancements, changing market dynamics, and evolving regulatory frameworks.

“As leaders in the sector, we must embrace innovation, adapt change, and continuously seek ways to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness, and resilience of our maritime operations.

“I do not doubt that every individual within our organization has the potential to achieve greatness; we will therefore, ensure that we build a purpose-driven organisation by investing in our staff, processes, and the entire system to achieve our mandate. I aim to foster an environment of innovation, collaboration and synergy, creating an atmosphere that encourages the development of our employees’ skills, talents, and creativity.”

He also used the opportunity to express gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for entrusting him with the responsibility of steering the affairs of the Agency.

“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for entrusting me with this crucial responsibility.

“I am highly aware of the immense trust and confidence the President placed in me. It is with great enthusiasm and a sense of purpose that I step into this position, fully committed to steering our organisation toward greater heights, while upholding the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and service to our nation”, he said.

He thanked the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, for his guidance throughout the appointment process, and expressed readiness to work with the Minister in achieving the objectives of the Ministry for the sector.

Earlier, the Agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile who led other Management staff to receive the DG noted that the entire Management and staff of the Agency were elated to welcome him to the Agency, while also pledging the cooperation of the staff for the success of the Agency.

Recall that on March 11, 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Dr. Dayo Mobereola to serve as the DG of the NIMASA for a renewable term of four years.

Dr. Mobereola holds a Ph. D and an M. Sc in Transport Economics from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.

He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport, England, and a fellow of the same institute in Nigeria.

He was the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) from 2003 to 2015 and the Commissioner for Transportation in Lagos State from 2015 to 2016.

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Maritime

NIMASA DG: Jamoh Hands Over To Offodile

Published

2 months ago

on

March 11, 2024

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Outgoing Director-General, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has handed over the affairs of the Agency to the Acting Director-General, Hon Chudi Offodile.

The change of baton ceremonies took place at NIMASA Towers in Victoria Island, on Monday.

Biztellers reports that Hon Offodile, was NIMASA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, before his new role.

Dr. Jamoh handed over to Hon Offodile in compliance with the Federal Government Establishment Circular tagged “End of Tenure Processes for Heads of Extra-Ministerial Departments, Director-Generals, Chief Executive Officers of Parastatals, Agencies, Commissions, and Government-Owned Companies and Succession Guideline” dated 4th December 2017.

Dr Jamoh’s tenure expired on March 10, 2024.

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for giving him the opportunity to serve in the capacity as Director General and urged the next leadership of the Agency to consolidate on the gains of the past four years.

He said, “I wish to express gratitude to Almighty Allah and the Federal Government for the privilege given me to serve Nigeria in this capacity, as I count myself a privileged Nigerian to have occupied this position, while also contributing my quota to the Nigerian maritime sector.

“Let me also use this opportunity to assure the staff of the Agency that wherever I am, I will still remain a part of this family; a place I have spent the active 30 years of my life.”

He also used the opportunity to thank staff of the Agency for the cooperation enjoyed and their professionalism in assisting the Agency in the realization of its mandate. He enjoined them to keep up the good work and cooperate with the new leadership of the Agency.

On his part, Hon Offodile thanked Jamoh for bringing his wealth of experience to the sector, while also stating that the expertise of the outgoing DG would continue to be required in the industry.

“I want to express my gratitude to the outgoing DG for being a guide to me upon assumption of office as the Executive Director, Finance & Administration, four years ago. The industry will continue to call on you for your expertise,” the Acting DG said.

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