An All Progressive Congress (APC), chieftain, Professor Yusuf Magaji, has extolled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for considering Prof. Abiodun Sule for the coveted office of Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The politician in a statement, yesterday, described the maritime expert as fit for the responsibility.
Magaji said while Sule is the best man for the job, the Presidency should overlook and dismiss spurious charges made against the knowledgeable marine specialist, despite the fact that he has never been invited or indicted by any security or financial institution.

He said with Abiodun’s credentials, he will reposition the industry and help build a more robust and impressive agency aimed at recovering Nigeria’s pride of place in the international community.

According to Professor Magaji, the maritime expert, possesses two PhDs, one in Maritime Technology Management and one in Fisheries and Aquaculture. The eminent Professor additionally holds a Master of Public Administration degree as well as a number of professional credentials, including a Marine Navigation Certificate and a Joint Scandinavian Surveyor Certificate.

He stated that the marine expert’s qualifications, also include a difficult MSc degree in marine (Nautical Science) from WMU Malmoe, Sweden, received in December 1994. He was supported in 1991 by The IMO, the European Union, and the then Nigeria National Maritime Authority (NMA).

Sule, as an IMO Scholar with over 110 publications and textbooks to his name, will be in a position to assist Nigeria in moving into Category C, which has long eluded the country due to the non-implementation of Conventions to which Nigeria is a party.

“If approved by the President, Sule’s proposed agenda will include a focus on strengthening key sectors of the maritime industry, Manpower Development in Nigeria by conserving scarce forex, Flag State and Port State management, Marine Environmental Management based on the MARPOL Convention 1973 as Amended, and Cabotage drives for better IGR; while aiming to improve existing aquaculture programs, particularly in the marine culture and freshwater domains, and revitalising Deep Sea aquaculture.”

Magaji, who claims to have known Sule for long, said the expert plans to work with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to install innovative post-harvest technologies like the Thiaroye smoking kiln to reduce post-harvest losses among fishermen.

“His agenda also includes the second phase of Fisheries National Stock Assessments, which will analyse species availability and health conditions in Nigerian coastal waters.
In addition, he intends to revive dormant Artisanal fisheries training programs and assemble correct data on Fisheries Artisans and Marine fishing to establish their economic contributions,” he added.

Prof. Sule is the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, which is based in Lagos. He is a licensed Marine Captain and an excellent maritime expert.

He recently led a team of six scientists from West African countries to the sea to collect and analyse data on the health of Nigeria’s ocean and brackish waters as part of a programme supported by POGO, Namibia.

Source- The Guardian Newspaper.