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‎Jonathan re-appoints Akpobolokemi as NIMASA DG

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Patrick Akpobolokemi

Patrick Akpobolokemi

By Kunle Kalejaye

 
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has re-appointed Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi as the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA for the next four years.
 
The re-appointment, which was conveyed in a letter dated October 13, 2014 and signed by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, becomes effective December 23, 2014.
Akpobolokemi’s re-appointment means that he will pilot the affairs in the marine sector still 2019
According to a statement signed by NIMASA’s Deputy Director/Head Public ‎Relation, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi, Akpobolokemi’s re-appointment is connected to his performance as NIMASA’s DG in the last four years. 
 
The statement reads: “In his first term, Akpobolokemi repositioned the maritime sector and made it an important pillar in the nation’s economy.
“His activities resulted in a new wave of improved maritime safety and security, creating an enabling environment for maritime business as a great contributor to the nation’s economy to thrive, a remarkable development that has been widely acknowledged by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
 
“Under his leadership, NIMASA achieved full maritime domain awareness through enhanced surveillance of the maritime environment with the introduction of a satellite surveillance system which covers the entire Gulf of Guinea and beyond.
“The Agency has also procured various platforms and electronic surveillance equipment through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a round-the-clock monitoring of the Nigerian maritime domain.
“As the nodal Agency for the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code, NIMASA has successfully ensured adequate compliance towards safe and secure port facilities in the country.
“Akpobolokemi’s zeal to create a safe and secure shipping environment, led to the working agreements with the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force towards ridding the maritime domain of all forms of piracy and related crimes.
“He has driven the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), designed by the Agency to grow capacity to fill existing gaps for qualified manpower in the maritime sector.
” Under NSDP, NIMASA has sponsored over 2,500 Nigerian youths to training in recognized maritime universities in the United Kingdom, Philippines, India, Egypt, Romania and Malaysia.
“The capacity building initiatives of Akpobolokemi’s leadership have also resulted in the setting up of Institutes of Maritime Studies in the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State and Niger Delta University, Amasoma, Bayelsa State as a way of boosting manpower training in the long run.
“This is in addition to the establishment of a Nigerian Maritime University and NIMASA Shipyard and Dockyard, in Okerenkoko, NIMASA Science and Technical College, Okoloba, Delta State.
“NIMASA under Akpobolokemi also launched several creative programmes, including the online verification of seafarers’ certificates, online sailing certificate and ship manifest as well as automating the process of ship registration in Nigeria.”

Maritime

Maritime Governance: Minister Deposits Three Accession Instruments At IMO

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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.

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Maritime

Capacity Dev’t: NIMASA Assures On Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund

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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.”

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Maritime

Okpebholo Hits Ground Running, Flags Off Edo’s 1st Flyover Bridge

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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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