03 January 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside has assured Nigerians that his administration would prioritize the execution of the Agency’s core mandate, and entrench conditions needed by the private operators, to create wealth in 2017.
Dakuku gave the assurance in his new year message to stakeholders
Identifying the year 2016 as “a challenging year”, as a result of the economic recession, the NIMASA boss said he would adopt specific measures this year, towards ensuring “the economic recovery not just for the maritime sector but the nation at large”.
“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.
“We are focused on the full implementation of our mandate in the new 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”, Dakuku Peterside stated further, noting the Federal Government’s total commitment towards reflating the economy in order to engender an early recovery from the current recession.
“The new year will signify a turning point in the fortunes of operators of the Nigerian Maritime industry”, he pointed out, decrying the harsh operating environment in Nigeria’s maritime industry while reiterating that the Agency will be committed to the full enforcement of its mandate.
Dr. Peterside further stated that the Agency will fully implement its five-pillar programme of maritime safety, security, search and rescue transformation; marine environment preservation; digital transformation initiative; capacity building initiatives; and cultural and attitudinal transformation.
Dr. Peterside further stated that the Agency will fully implement its five-pillar programme of maritime safety, security, search and rescue transformation; marine environment preservation; digital transformation initiative; capacity building initiatives; and cultural and attitudinal transformation.
The Agency is poised to activate all these initiatives with a view to harnessing the vast opportunities inherent in the sector and generating revenue for the government for developmental programmes,”, he noted further.