Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) insists that NIMASA’s collaboration with critical stakeholders and supporting allies remains a recipe for the sustenance of the Federal Government’s efforts to eliminate maritime crimes on Nigerian waters as well as in the Gulf of Guinea
By our Correspondent
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said for Nigeria to sustain the security of the maritime domain especially as it concerns the Gulf of Guinea, there is the need for inter-agency collaboration. This revelation was made recently by the Director General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh who insisted that inter-agency collaboration is critical to sustaining the efforts to reduce criminal activities on the Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea (GoG). Jamoh made this revelation when he played host to the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP); Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd) at the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.
Jamoh commended Ndiomu for the visit and added that it was timely and a wake-up call to synergy, in order to sustain the tempo of policing the Nigerian waters, while also actively engaging and empowering the youths on opportunities in the Nigerian maritime sector.
The DG-NIMASA said; “Nigeria has received several commendations from the international community for the visible successes achieved in addressing insecurity in our maritime domain.
“As such, they are watching to see if we can sustain the tempo, hence the Agency’s willingness to partner with the Presidential Amnesty Programme and other relevant bodies”.
Jamoh also informed the visitor about the viability of creating jobs through the Blue Economy, stressing that the maritime sector has what it takes to engage the Nigerian youths on productive activities in order to discourage them, from engaging in illicit and criminal activities that can impact society negatively including acts of sea piracy.
According to Jamoh, “The Nigerian maritime industry is large enough to sustainably and actively engage the teeming youths, as there are enormous opportunities in the industry that the youths can take advantage of to generate foreign earnings.”, He further assured of the Agency’s readiness to collaborate with the Presidential Amnesty Programme in reintegrating beneficiaries of the Amnesty programme into the society.
In his response, Ndiomu urged NIMASA to fashion out workable and sustained partnerships towards creating opportunities for teeming youths in the Niger Delta region. He also said that the PAP has trained a large number of youths across institutions in the world in various specializations, some of which include Deep Sea Diving, Underwater Welding, and Marine Engineering, hence the reason for seeking partnership with the Agency to engage them actively on maritime related opportunities.
He also used the opportunity to inform the DG of his agenda for the Amnesty Programme.
“My vision is to chart a new path for the Amnesty Programme by upholding the principal objectives of government, by bringing innovative ideas, setting a new Management structure of wealth creation for the teeming youths, instead of depending on monthly stipends, to pave way for a more prosperous future.
“We are looking at technical support from NIMASA, and job placement opportunities in NIMASA for our qualified delegates, he said.
The Amnesty boss also used the opportunity to commend the DG and his team for redefining the safety and security of Nigeria’s Maritime Industry, adding that “I am aware of your outstanding achievements, particularly in the obvious reduction of piracy on the Gulf of Guinea”.
