Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, (middle, front row), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Olufemi Oloruntola (third left), Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Yusuf Abubakar (third right), Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola (second left), Director, Maritime Safety and Security, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Babatunde Bombata (second right), and other board members during their inauguration in Abuja
By Anthony Nwachukwu
Nigeria’s strategic maritime position along the Gulf of Guinea and its expansive 850-kilometre coastline raises its potential to benefit substantially from shipping, fisheries, marine biotechnology, offshore energy and coastal tourism, among others, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has said.
Oyetola, who spoke in Abuja while inaugurating the governing boards of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), noted that it was in recognition of these opportunities that the ministry was created for focused leadership, regulation and promotion of the country’s ocean-based economy.
The minister described the inauguration as a significant milestone in the federal government’s efforts to reposition the maritime sector for maximum national impact, according to a statement from his Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola.
The exercise, he said, was a vital step in consolidating the structures that will drive the marine and blue economy to unlock the immense potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain for economic growth, environmental sustainability and national development.
Against this background, Oyetola told the new NIMASA Board members that their agency’s critical mandates include maritime safety, labour regulation, marine environmental protection and capacity development.
Urging members to operate in the national interest with integrity, professionalism and transparency, he emphasised that their role is to formulate policies and provide oversight for the agency’s operations, without interfering in its day-to-day management.
The NIMASA Board is chaired by Yusuf Abubakar, with members including the Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile, Executive Director, Operations, Fatai Adeyemi, and Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, Jibril Abba.
Others are Babatunde Bombata (representing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy), Emmanuel Nosakhare Igbinosun, Rear Admiral P.C. Nwatu (representing the Nigerian Navy), Yinusa Yakubu, Fedelis Agbir and Iroghama Ogbeifun.
In his response on behalf of the board, the chairman, Abubakar, thanked President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to serve, and the minister for his leadership and the confidence reposed in the board, stating that the appointment was not just a privilege but also a call to national duty.
He assured that members would work closely with the NIMASA management to foster transparency, innovation and professionalism, in line with the federal government’s strategic vision for a secure and prosperous maritime domain.
Oyetola also inaugurated the NIWA Governing Board, which he described as another critical pillar in Nigeria’s maritime and transport architecture. He said the new board comes at a time that effective institutional leadership was needed to drive infrastructure development, regulate inland water activities, promote water transport and support economic integration across regions.
He reminded the board of its role to provide strategic policy guidance and supervision, in accordance with the NIWA Act, while operational execution remains with the managing director and the management team.
He urged members to approach their duties with discipline, professionalism, and a clear understanding of institutional boundaries, adding that national interest and development must guide every decision.
The board comprises Musa Adar as chairman, the Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, Hussaini Shettima, Jeminiwa Charles, Dr. Ndidi Ozegbe, Professor Sadiq Abubakar, Kunle Olugbemiro, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, Dele Oye, Capt. Jerome Angwunwe and Hoplyn Ayu.
On behalf of the board, the chairman, Adar, promised that members would work harmoniously with the management and operate within its mandate to ensure that the agency fulfils its role in facilitating inland waterways transportation and economic connectivity. He thanked President Tinubu for the trust placed in them, and Oyetola for his guidance.
