Dr Bashir Jamoh, the current Director General of NIMASA wins Nigeria’s “Maritime Man of the Year” Award in grand style
On Wednesday, February 28, 2024, the Eko Hotels and Suites bubbled with outstanding personalities. They had come to witness the conferment of the prestigious “Maritime Man of the Year” Award on the indefatigable Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh. Dr Jamoh has led NIMASA through thick and thin to position it at the top of maritime parastatals in Africa which has also bestowed global recognition on the agency.
Under Dr Jamoh, NIMASA has witnessed numerous reforms that have made it to be the envy of other Federal Government agencies in the country. To this end, when it was announced recently that Jamoh would be conferred with the latest award, not a few stakeholders jostled to witness occasion live. The NIMASA boss received the award from Maritime Media Limited, a prominent media outfit operating in Nigeria’s shipping business sector.
While receiving stakeholders commendations, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, who was represented by Senator Lawal Silver, described the NIMASA boss as the best personality export Nigeria has got whom he said that Kaduna State is very proud of.
“Nigeria has seen the value in Dr Bashir Jamoh and this was why he was conferred with the National Award of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“He is also a holder of many several chieftaincy titles across Nigeria including Batona of Akure
He is one of the best export we have in Nigeria and Kaduna State is very proud of him. The Blue Economy he is marshaling out is one that is going to benefit the whole nation greatly” he said.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited, Elder Asu Beks described Dr Jamoh as the champion of the Blue Economy in Nigeria as far as awareness creation is concerned.
“Jamoh made no ambiguity over the fact that he was going to prioritize these three critical areas which also represent the core mandate of NIMASA. It therefore did not take long before this commitment became manifest.
“One of his major accomplishments was ridding the Nigerian maritime space of criminality for which he has received a lot of commendation including the IMO. Dr. Kitack Lim, the then Secretary General of the IMO had penned a letter to Jamoh commending him for turning around the near pariah status which the Nigerian Maritime space and indeed the Gulf of Guinea had become. This achievements can be better appreciated when viewed against the background that in the preceding years, hardly did a day go by without an incidence of piracy, sea robbery and kidnapping for ransom, which had led to insurers to charge ‘war risk premium’ on Nigeria bound cargo. But this dispensation, Nigeria has gone more than a year without a single incidence.
“Using the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project, Jamoh has successfully reduced the incidence of piracy, kidnapping, armed robbery at sea and other such incidences to the barest minimum. It is on record that for the first time in many years, Nigeria did not record any piracy incident for more than one calendar year since March 2022.
“The Deep Blue Project, a comprehensive approach to tackling maritime insecurity combines technology, water, air and land arsenals with trained professionals on a round the clock basis to ensure that the success achieved so far is sustained . Platforms have also been provided to enhance flag administration and Port State Control as well as effective enforcement of relevant maritime conventions and protocols.
“The administration has also made a bold step towards improving vessel navigation by embarking on an ambitious project of wreck removal which is still ongoing. Dr. Jomah’s administration has also gone ahead to put on place all the components that make a maritime administration effective.
“These include strengthening the agency’s capacity for Search and Rescue operations including construction of befitting Search and Rescue Base clinics at all the agency’s operational zones. On the way to achieving this feat, Dr. Jamoh sought and extensively engaged stakeholders on this and many other issues plaguing the industry” Elder Asu Beks stated.
Representative of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Phillip Heyl said the IMO is very proud of the NIMASA boss, adding that, “He is a fantastic representation of Nigeria who has done more for the reputation of Nigeria in the maritime world than anyone in a long time”
Heyl added that Jamoh’s performance in Nigeria’s maritime sector has brought immense benefits to Nigeria before the maritime nations. He particularly said the NIMASA DG has done so much for the country, adding that this has helped in promoting the good image of Nigeria among maritime nations.
While congratulating the NIMASA boss for the award, Heyl described Jamoh as a very credible industry personality who is focused on achieving so much for the country.
On his part, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola also congratulated Jamoh for being selected for the award. Oyetola who was represented at the event by a Director in the Ministry, Hon Babatunde Bombata, said the award was an indication of the efforts by Jamoh to deliver for the progress of the sector. According to him, the award showed that his contributions in the maritime sector are enormous.
Speaking at the event, President General of the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN), Comrade Adeyanju described Dr Jamoh as a proactive leader who does not promise and fail, but believes in the welfare of the workers.
He said members of the Union were proud of Jamoh for his contributions in the sector.
In his response, the award recipient, Jamoh said he acknowledged his mentor, the former Director General of the agency, Alhaji Muniru Jafar, who brought him into the maritime industry and shaped his focus to be the man he is today.
Jamoh said, “There is still a lot of things undone, we are yet to get to the promise land as far as maritime industry is concerned, what have today is just building the foundation. The fact is that we have seen some prospects in where we are going to”.
Other dignitaries who graced the event included; Prince Olayiwola Shittu who was the chief host, Board Chairman of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, Hajia Lami Tumaka, Mrs Jean Chiazor Anishere (SAN), Hajia Bola Muse, Capt Taiwo Akinpumi, Mr Emmanuel Maiguwa, Mrs Ify Akerele, Emeka Akabogu among others.
Meanwhile, the Management of NIMASA has handed over the ultra-modern building of the Institute of Marine and Transport Technology to the Management of the University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Jamoh disclosed that the building which is a donation from NIMASA to the University was the initiative of previous leadership of the agency, but on assumption as the Director General he saw the need to review and complete the project.
Jamoh: “The initiative dates back to 2012/2013 when the then DG of the Agency decided to build a maritime training institute. The initiative is not peculiar to Uniport but is present in all the six geopolitical zones of the country. Any investment in education is definitely worthwhile. Research has shown that lack of education is relatively responsible for maritime crimes in the Niger Delta Region. We hope beneficiaries of this Maritime institute will be instrumental in making Nigeria a major maritime nation”.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abraham Georgewill, who was represented by the VC Administration, Prof. Clifford Ofurum thanked NIMASA for selecting Uniport as the location for the Maritime institute, assuring that the University will provide adequate faculty to ensure courses are accredited and recognized globally.
