Maritime
Capacity building:NIMASA to partner with Royal British Navy
……Congratulates new NGE president
By Kunle Kalejaye
LAGOS-THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has reiterated that capacity building is important to the growth and development of Nigerian maritime sector.
For this reason, NIMASA’s Acting Director General, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro said the agency is prepared to partner with the British Military in this regard.
R-L: Mr. Edward Dunn Political Officer, Niger Delta of the British High Commission, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, Ag. Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Commander Shaun Quinn, BMATT Staff Officer and the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA when the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) paid a courtesy visit to the Head Quarters of the Agency in Lagos.
Receiving a delegation from the British Military Advisory and Training Team, BMATT led by Commander Shaun Quinn of the Royal Navy during a courtesy visit to the Agency, Mr. Jauro said the willingness is there to partner with the British.
He added that the relationship between the British and the Nigerian government dates back to the pre colonial era and that the Agency is willing to consolidate on the already existing relationship, especially in the area of training for the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime sector and the nation at large.
“The Agency is willing and ready to collaborate with the British Military in the area of training of our personnel because training is part of capacity building and capacity building is key to the growth and development of the maritime sector”, the DG said.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation who is also the BMATT Staff Officer Maritime, Commander Shaun Quinn noted that the reason for the visit was to know some of the functions of the Agency and to also discuss possible areas of collaboration with the Agency as regards training of its personnel towards enhancing a virile and safer maritime sector.
Commander Quinn also said that the British High Commission is busy refreshing relationships with the country since a new administration took over and that the British Military will always be ready to build a closer working relationship with the Nigerian government where the interest of both countries is put into consideration to enhance trade facilitation and security on the nation’s waterways.
In another development, NIMASA has conveyed its congratulatory message to the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE for the emergency of their new elected members.
At the recent All Nigerian Editors Conference, Mallam Garba Deen Muhammad, the former Deputy President, became the President, while Mr. Steve Ayorinde, who was Vice President (West) was elected Deputy President and Mrs Funke Egbemode, the former Social and Publicity Secretary is now Vice President (West).
In the letter to the NGE President, the NIMASA Acting DG NIMASA, Mr. Jauro described the election as a mark of the confidence Nigerian editors reposed in the trio as a result of their outstanding performance in previous responsibilities.
Confirming the message, NIMASA in a statement signed by the Head Public Relation, Hajia Lami Tumaka stated that the agency Acting DG also said that the development was in line with the commitment of the Guild to ensure that journalists at all levels continue to discharge their noble roles as required of the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
Recalling the nationalistic roles of leading lights in journalism, among whom were Ernest Ikoli, Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo, Mr Jauro urged the NGE to be in the forefront of the reawakening movement and the deepening of Nigeria’s unity in diversity.
“Our dear country is at a time when all citizens, particularly professional groups like the NGE ought to rally behind the ongoing drive towards probity in every aspect of our national life in order to set Nigeria on the path of progress. Given the pedigree of the NGE leadership, I have no doubt that you all are well equipped and prepared for the onerous tasks ahead,” the DG admonished.
The Agency has over the years provided support for the Guild and other media associations as part of its commitment to the development and growth of its various stakeholder groups.
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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