The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola says the agency under his watch is committed to building an efficient, transparent, and globally competitive maritime administration
By Innocent Chukwu
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), said it has been committed to making the Nigerian maritime business sector an efficient and transparent industry under its present leadership, that is capable of competing favourably among the developed maritime economies in the world. This commitment was made by NIMASA’s Director General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola who also restated his administration’s commitment to make good the promise in line with the dictates of contemporary realities.
The NIMASA boss stated these when he received the leadership of the Alumni Association of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO), led by its President, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, who were on a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
In a statement issued by the deputy director Public Relations last week, Mr Osagie Edward, Mobereola assured the AMANO leaders of the Agency’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime industry through sustained reforms, strategic stakeholder collaboration and initiatives that support the policy objectives of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The statement quoted Mobereola to have said, “Our vision is to build a maritime administration that is efficient, transparent and globally competitive. We will continue to pursue reforms that strengthen regulatory oversight, promote innovation and expand opportunities for Nigerian seafarers in line with the policy direction of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy”.
The DG-NIMASA also described the maritime sector as a critical driver of Nigeria’s economic growth, adding that AMANO and other industry associations were indispensable partners in the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector. He equally emphasized that sustained collaboration remained essential in developing policies and programmes that would unlock the sector’s full potential.
In his address, the President of AMANO, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, commended NIMASA for the successful deployment of the electronic platform for the issuance of Seafarers’ Certificates, describing it as a significant milestone that has improved efficiency, transparency and accessibility in the certification process for Nigerian seafarers.
Maiguwa further acknowledged NIMASA’s strategic partnerships and Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs), noting that they have expanded opportunities for the training, certification and employment of Nigerian seafarers.
He also expressed AMANO readiness to deepen collaboration with NIMASA and identified priority areas requiring sustained engagement with the Agency. These include the expansion of the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), greater stakeholder participation in maritime policy formulation, effective implementation of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW Convention), enhanced protection of seafarers against abandonment, the establishment of a sustainable pension framework and improved welfare initiatives for Nigerian seafarers.
The statement said the meeting provided an opportunity for exchange of views on key issues affecting the maritime sector, with discussions centred on seafarer development, implementation of international maritime instruments, stakeholder participation in maritime policy formulation and other initiatives aimed at advancing the growth and sustainable development of Nigeria’s maritime industry.
