Maritime
NIMASA Unveils Service Charter In Move To Redefine Service
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has launched its Service Charter, renewing its performance bond in the service of the country, the maritime sector, and its stakeholders.
The Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, revealed this in a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.
He divulged that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, commended the Management of NIMASA for her commitment to improved service delivery in line with the direction of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.
Oyetola, who was represented by the Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Babatunde Bombata, commended NIMASA for embracing technological advancements, modernizing its operations, thereby improving its productivity and fostering sustainable growth in the maritime sector.
He also congratulated NIMASA on its Service Charter, calling it “a testament to NIMASA’s dedication to providing world-class service to maritime stakeholders, and fostering an environment that encourages sustainable growth in the Marine and Blue economy.
Oyetola said, “This Charter is not just a document, it symbolizes a renewed commitment to service excellence, responsiveness and continuous improvement within NIMASA.
“The Service Charter represents a public bond by NIMASA, to provide high quality, efficient and transparent services to stakeholders in the maritime industry and the general public.
“It is also a tool for accountability that sets out clear expectations for stakeholders and provides a mechanism for the Agency to measure its performance.”
The Minister recalled that the Agency had recently entered into a Performance Bond agreement for Ministerial Deliverables with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
He noted that among the three Management Scorecard Priorities outlined in the MDA Performance Management System (MPMS) is the ‘Service Wide Priorities’ which is aimed at enhancing service delivery throughout the maritime sector.
Earlier, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun Sanni, assured that the committee would work closely with NIMASA to provide maximum cooperation in appropriating funds for the Agency to achieve its objectives.
He urged NIMASA as a matter of urgency, to adhere to all service provisions, to become the best in Africa and the World by extension.
On her part, the National Coordinator SERVICOM Office, Presidency, Nnenna Akajemeli, noted that NIMASA is now a model in service delivery and the SERVICOM office in the Presidency has now made NIMASA a reference Agency for others in the country.
In her words, “Let me inform you all that we at the SERVICOM office in the Presidency are proud of the achievements of NIMASA in terms of Service delivery.
“The NIMASA Customer Experience Center is now a model we recommend to all other Agencies of government in Nigeria. We actually advise them to visit NIMASA Experience Centre and replicate same so the connectivity between the Government and the people can improve”.
In his welcome address, the DG, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, stated that the Service Charter was a significant milestone in the Agency’s journey to improve on her commitment in redefining service delivery.
He said, “Service Redefined, encapsulates our commitment to transforming the way we serve our stakeholders, the maritime community and the Nigerian people as a whole. It reflects our dedication to elevating the standards of service delivery, embracing innovation, and fostering a culture of excellence within our organization.
“Our Service Charter outlines our promises to all those who interact with NIMASA, whether they are Ship Owners, Seafarers, Port Operators, or members of the public. It sets clear standards for the quality of service they can expect from us, and establishes mechanisms for feedback and continuous improvement.”
Other dignitaries present at the launch included the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety Education and Administration, Hon. Uduak Odudoh, Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd.), among others.
Maritime
Maritime Governance: Minister Deposits Three Accession Instruments At IMO
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.
Maritime
Capacity Dev’t: NIMASA Assures On Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund
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.”
Maritime
Okpebholo Hits Ground Running, Flags Off Edo’s 1st Flyover Bridge
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.”