- Agency reaffirms partnership with navy
- Revenue leakages rattle stakeholders
By Uzor Odigbo
Special Correspondent, Lagos
Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, has charged members of the board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure accountability and formulate policies to achieve its objectives.
He told the 11 board members at their inauguration at the ministry in Abuja that their
responsibilities include setting operational and administrative policies in accordance with government policies and directives to enable the agency achieve its mandate.
He urged them to promote prudence, accountability, transparency, equity, and fairness as well as engender a harmonious working relationship with the management, reiterating that their board membership is part time.
Amaechi also charged them to be “change agents” through zero tolerance for corruption and propagating the government’s anti corruption stance by example that “change begins with me.”
Board Chairman, Jonathan Garba, who spoke on behalf of other members, thanked President Muhammadu Buhar for finding them worthy of the appointment and pledged that they will work to actualise the mandate of NIMASA.
He said they are mindful of Buhari’s position on corruption and will work within the law to demonstrateaccountability.
The other board members are Dakuku Peterside (NIMASA director general), Bashir Jamoh, Joseph Fashakin, Ahmed Gambo, S.U. Galadanchi, Enebeti Dike, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo, Mohammed Mua’zu, Asekhome Kenneth, and Ebele Obi.
Partnership with navy
In another development, Peterside has assured that NIMASA will continue to partner with the navy to secure Nigerian waterways and optimise exploration of marine resources.
He gave the assurance when Naval Cadets of the 66 Regular Course of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) visited the agency.
He told them that the symbiotic relationshipbetween NIMASA and the navy is inseparable because of the functions of both agencies, saying the visit of the cadets is auspicious as they will always interact with NIMASA upon commissioning.
Peterside praised the gallantry of naval officers, noting that the Nigerian Navy is one of the best in the world, in which he has pride.
He expressed appreciation to the cadets for choosing to serve and protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria, adding: “You have chosen a very noble course as brave men and women, only the brave will chose to enlist in our military.
“As courageous men and women, you have offered to make all forms of sacrifices first for the good of our country and for all of us your country men and women so that we can move about freely; most importantly so that the territorial integrity of our nation will be protected.”
The cadets, led by Commander Alfred Oride, visited NIMASA to familiarise themselves with its activities as they relate to the navy as part of their course.
Revenue leakages rattle stakeholders
However, fingers are pointing at NIMASA as constituting the biggest revenue leakage in the maritime industry with so much money passing through it and without direct visible impact on the economy.
The concern arose from a story published by SHIPS & PORTS DAILY that NIMASA collected N285.8 billion from cargo charges in seven years.
“You mean a single agency receives such an amount of money as just part of the overall money that it collects monthly?
“This is intriguing and yet the majority of Nigerians are suffering. It is a case of water everywhere but there is no water to drink” lamented one stakeholder.
He noted that the revenue almost doubled in 2015, which showed that somebody tried to “play a fast one especially when it was obvious that former President Goodluck Jonathan was losing the presidential election and the stern looking Muhammed Buhari was going to take over.
“So they quickly arranged to put more money in government coffers to avoid conviction by anti-corruption agencies.”
Others said a searchlight should be beamed on NIMASA and meticulous auditing done to see whether this money was properly utilised, frittered away or cornered up by individuals.
NIMASA reportedly collected $1.34 billion as statutory 3 per cent charges on international inbound and outbound dry and wet cargoes between 2009 and 2014, as well as N70.8 billion in 2015; a total N285.8 billion.
A revenue document obtained by TheNiche showed that NIMASA generated $1.77 billion between 2009 and 2014 but collected $1.34 billion.
Former NIMASA Director General, Haruna Jauro, had told the Senate Committee on Marine Transport during a visit to the agency that it collected N70.8 billion in 2014 and N207 million from liquefied natural gas (LNG) from June 2013.
Revenue increased in 2013 when NIMASA made the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to pay a 3 per cent levy after over 20 years of non-payment.
Its revenue rose from $226.6 million in 2012 to $242.3 million in 2013 and $288.1 million in 2014, but the agency remitted its earnings in naira.
Earnings were low in 2009 ($172.5 million), 2010 ($199.9 million), and 2011 ($214.8 million).
NIMASA collected more revenue from dry cargoes, comprising imports and exports, other than oil and other liquids.
Dry cargoes fetched $104.2 million and wet cargoes $68.3 million in 2009; $111.2 million and $88.6 million (2010), $118.2 million and $96.5 million (2011); $121.8 million and $104.7 million (2012); $132.1 million and $110.1 million (2013); $139.3 million and $148.8 million (2014).
Revenue almost doubled in 2015 when it made N70.8 billion.
