The bill to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act has passed the first reading on the floor of the Nigerian Senate.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, who announced this during a working visit by the committee to NIMASA office in Lagos, yesterday, noted that the Senate of the 10th National Assembly is committed to formulating policies that would ensure Nigerians enjoy the benefits of the blue economy.
He said that a constructive evaluation of the existing maritime legal framework was necessary to ascertain gaps for possible review, pledging that the senate was committed to supporting the maritime sector, in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Eshinlokun stated that with the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry, a message has been passed to all stakeholders that the maritime industry has a huge role to play in nation building.
He said that the committee members unanimously acknowledged NIMASA’s investment in the acquisition and building of a strong safety and security architecture.
He reiterated that such effort was a confirmation that the agency was conscious of its mandate and strategic status as one of the major contributors to the country’s sustainable development.
Also, a member of the committee, Abdul Ningi, commended NIMASA’s management, stating that much progress has been made over the years through its commitment to the sector.
In his welcome remarks, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, noted that the agency is committed to both human capacity and infrastructural development to grow the nation’s blue economy.
Jamoh stated that a well-developed marine and blue economy would be strong enough to service Nigeria’s yearly budget as it encompasses all economic activities associated with the oceans and seas.
According to Jamoh, NIMASA is working tirelessly to secure the nation’s waters and by extension, the Gulf of Guinea, noting that the time has come for the nation to build on the recent gains in the area of safety and security of the waterways.