By: Ibrahim Shehu
The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dayo Mobereola, says Nigerian ports and jetties some of the safest in the world.
Speaking at a Sectoral retreat for top management of the ministry of marine and blue economy in Abuja, the DG stated that the assessment was made by the US Coastguard when they inspected the nation’s ports.
Dr. Mobereola said the agency was able to achieve this feat by sustaining zero incidence in piracy in the past four years.
“In achieving this, we were encouraged to fully develop all the assets of the deep blue sector, including personnel and made sure they are equipped with an intelligence apparatus in order to anticipate what would happen, and then we deploy security officials to tackle any problem.
“The first concern of these shipping companies is that those vessels are safe to the extent that they have come round Nigerian territorial waters and have found it safe and comfortable to allow their vessels to go through is a great achievement to the marine and blue economy ministry.
He disclosed that approval has been given for NIMASA to go into a public private partnership project to explore areas, where by law the agency ought to have been receiving revenues.
The NIMASA DG stressed the need for collaboration within the agencies under the ministry of marine and blue economy to achieve the desired goals.
