By Uzor Odigbo
Special Correspondent, Lagos
Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director General, Dakuku Peterside, has reiterated that the agency would not rest on its oars until it achieves 100 per cent compliance of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in all port facilities nationwide.
He spoke in Lagos at the opening of an Advanced Drills and Exercises Workshop organised by NIMASA in conjunction with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for ISPS implementation officers.
NIMASA seeks to raise compliance level from the current 90 per cent to 100 per cent.
Peterside, represented by his Executive Director (Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services), Gambo Ahmed, said the agency realises the importance of capacity building towards the successful implementation of the Code.
He stressed the need for frequent training of the enforcement officers to acquaint them with the rudiments of implementing the Code.
“It is no secret that we have made giant strides in ISPS Code implementation in Nigeria. We do not wish to rest on our laurels as the zeal to acquire 100 per cent compliance in all port facilities can only be achieved if the officers are technically equipped and updated on international standards required for ISPS Code Implementation,” Peterside said.
He commended the IMO for its technical support for Nigeria which has helped in the implementation of the Code.
“The support of the IMO in providing peer review and other forms of technical support has played an integral role in assisting us as the Designated Authority in raising the bar of the implementation of the Code.
“Through this support we have been able to steadily increase compliance levels amongst ISPS applicable facilities and our Officers have been able to guide compliance and boost awareness levels in the maritime environment.”
NIMASA Executive Director (Operations), Rotimi Fashakin, the line executive director of the implementation of the Code, pledged that the agency would soon achieve 100 per cent compliance based on the management’s commitment to the implementation.
IMO lead consultant, Brian Cranmer, who said he was impressed with the zeal of NIMASA towards ensuring compliance of ISPS Code in Nigeria, and promised IMO’s continuous support.
The compliance level of the ISPS Code in the country is adjudged to be over 90 per cent, from about 13 per cent when NIMASA took over as the Designated Authority.
Peterside has also emphasised the agency’s commitment towards ensuring the ports and terminals are safer and more reliable to do business in line with the government’s agenda of ease of doing business.
Earlier this year, NIMASA commenced moves to boost the national non-oil revenue base, with the promotion and redeployment of some senior officers to actualise its core mandate in 2017.
Peterside said the reshuffle was in line with the change agenda where top managers are drafted to areas that require their expertise around the country.
He explained that other strategies to actualise include creating a business friendly and enabling environment for ship ownership by Nigerian investors while facilitating international standard job placements for Nigerian youths.
While 2016 was challenging as a result of the economic recession, he said, 2017 promises to be a year of economic recovery not just for maritime but the entire nation.
He insisted that the federal government is committed to reflating the economy for early recovery, saying this year will be a turning point in the fortunes of maritime operators.
“We are focused on the full implementation of our mandate [this year]. We have concluded the restructuring, repositioning and reformation of NIMASA which would take effect in the first quarter of 2017 with the aim of making Nigeria a hub of maritime activities in West and Central Africa.
“Our commitment is to make sure that indigenous operators maximise their potentials in our maritime industry whilst creating wealth and job opportunities for our teeming youths,” Peterside said.
He reiterated his commitment to helping maritime investors to create wealth and jobs, decrying the current harsh operating environment.
He promised that NIMASA will fully implement its pillar programmes of maritime safety; security; search and rescue; marine environment preservation; digital transformation; capacity building; and cultural and attitudinal transformation.
This will strengthen the hand of the agency to harness the vast opportunities in the sector and generate revenue for Abuja to development the country.
On another economic flank, the government has also commenced the process of an anti-piracy law against the activities of pirates and sea robbers on Nigeria’s territorial waters.
Peterside confirmed that the draft bill is being worked on at the Ministry of Justice before it goes to the National Assembly (NASS).
If passed into law, Nigeria will be the first country in Africa to have such a law on piracy.
Peterside said NIMASA is enhancing investors’ confidence in the maritime industry by promoting security and safety through improved surveillance to prevent crime.
NIMASA wants to strengthen its Eastern and Central operations as the board has approved the construction of a building in Port Harcourt to serve as Eastern Zonal head office and another in Warri for the Central Zone.
The board approved the building of a port office in Onne which serves as a very sensitive area for shipping in the South South.
Peterside promised that NIMASA will be closer to the people in the Deep South for quicker and efficient service delivery.
Under his watch, he added, NIMASA has promoted several staff stagnated in various ranks over the years and attracted technical support for capacity building.
”For the very first time in over 20 years, more than 300 members of staff of NIMASA were promoted. Some have been stagnated for 10 years. We were able to go through the process with the support of our board to achieve this.
”We have attracted more technical training to NIMASA more than any other administration in recent times. In the last 10 months, there is no month in which we have not sent people for one technical training or another,” Peterside disclosed.
On sea time training for graduates of maritime institutions, he said NIMASA has concluded arrangement for the first batch to be sponsored to expand their chances for job placement.
”If you hold a certificate from any maritime training institution anywhere in the world without the sea time training and requisite CoC (Certificate of Competence), such certificate becomes a worthless piece of document.”
NIMASA is equally working to see that the 2,900 youths sent to training in various parts of the world get the practical experience that will guarantee international standard employment and boost earnings for Nigeria.
