By Uzor Odigbo
Floating modular dry dock owned by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has continued to rot away in Naval dockyard in Victoria Island, checks have revealed.
The equipment, which has been under the watchful eyes of the Nigerian Navy for unknown reasons, is yet to achieve its purpose even as industry observers have queried management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) for the negligence and recklessness.
While core maritime players in a chat affirmed that the modular dry dock has been politicised, others called on the government to dump the equipment at Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron in Akwa Ibom State since it has no reason to be domiciled at the Naval base in Lagos.
The floating dock at the cost of more than N50 billion, is yet to perform the expected functions since its arrival to the country and the agency remains confused on what to do with it.
Recall that NIMASA had on June 11, 2018 taken delivery of the much-talked floating dock, which it said would help boost ship repairs capacity, generate wealth and create employment for Nigerians .
Investigations revealed that cost of maintenance of the equipment is at N3.6 million daily (over N100 million monthly) thus without any economic benefit to the nation in return.
Seafarers and master mariners who spoke on the development, however, expressed concerns that NIMASA has shrouded the ill-advised acquisition of the floating dock and huge daily maintenance cost in secrecy.
National President, Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Comrade Alalade Matthew noted that the delay in functionality of the dry dockyard is s minus to the Peterside Dakuku administration adding that the facility is due for maintenance.
According to him, the dry dock is politically motivated for optimal utilisation urging the NIMASA to debrief Nigerians on the current situation of the equipment.
“Putting the floating dock under the care of the Nigerian Navy is not ideal in anyway but they know what they are doing.
“I will advise the DG of NIMASA and his management team to look inward and not play politics with the dry dock because it has so many prospects to boost the maritime industry.
Also , a master mariner who preferred anonymity lamented that the current leadership of NIMASA lacked how to manage such facility to boost revenue for the government.
He lamented that the equipment can solve problematic inclination concerning manpower and capacity development of the country, pointing out that maintenance of the dry dock only runs in millions of Naira daily.
