- Dangote, Afolabi commend NIMASA’s sectoral leadership
Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside (right), Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, at the NIMASA Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards in Lagos…yesterday
By Chidubem Anthony
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the nation’s maritime sector has become a new attraction for investors, and that the nation was beginning to see another opportunity through which to harness its vast resources.
Mustapha, speaking through the Minister of Budget, Sen. Udo Udoma, who represented him at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards in Lagos, attributed this to the Federal Government’s success in repositioning the sector for economic growth through the agency.
He urged the awardees and the industry stakeholders to remain focused in supporting government’s drive to take the economy to greater heights, stating the Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside, and his team “have transformed the organisation.”
For the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, NIMASA has led the sector to modest achievements in recent times and “has continued to take the lead by providing direction for operators in the industry. On our part, we will continue to support the agency’s drive to reposition the Nigerian maritime sector.”
Similarly, the Executive Vice Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, said the NIMASA maritime awards would go a long way in propelling industry players to make more efforts towards achieving a robust sector.
Earlier, Peterside reiterated that the maritime industry remained the backbone of international trade, while the Nigerian sector has made remarkable achievements in the last two years in spite the many challenges, through stakeholders’ commitment, professionalism and resilience.
Nevertheless, “the Nigerian maritime sector is on a journey; we are not where we are going yet, hence we need the continuous support of our stakeholders in our quest to realise a robust maritime sector, so that we can compete favourably with our counterparts in other maritime climes,” Peterside said.
He further congratulated the awardees, charging them to redouble efforts in the discharge of their duties and functions in the sector to guarantee greater successes in the coming years.
He further appealed for collaboration, stating: “We cannot do it alone, we will continue to collaborate and partner our stakeholders to fully realise our mandates of promoting and regulating shipping activities in Nigeria.”
The high point was the presentation of a plaque and cheque of N1 million to the Best Staff of Year 2018, Mr. Abraham Iseghohi, from the agency’s Western Zone Office.
Also, in recognition of their contributions to the growth and development of the sector, NIMASA honoured some outstanding maritime companies, including Maersk Nigeria Limited, Gulf Agency Company (GAC) Nigeria Ltd, Charkins Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre, among others, alongside some members of its staff.
