The newly-appointed Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Bashir Jamoh, yesterday assumed office with a pledge to engage industry stakeholders more deeply, so as to come up with policies that would move the maritime sector forward.

The NIMASA boss who made the pledge on his assumption of office in Lagos shortly after taking over from Dr Dakuku Peterside, also promised to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor.

Speaking shortly after he was handed the baton of the agency, Jamoh also promised to harness the deeply viable blue economy for the country.

He said, "since government is a continuum, we shall hit the ground running immediately. We shall study your handover notes diligently to ensure continuity of leadership for the sector”.

``We shall also listen and engage more deeply and more frequently with all our stakeholders both internal and external and we will find time to address issues and make projections soon,'' he said.

Jamoh while congratulating Peterside on the completion of his tenure, described him as a strategist, planner, executioner and articulated person; full of energy, passion and dedication.

According to Jamoh, "today marks a turning point in the history and existence of NIMASA. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to NIMASA as I take the mantle of leadership of this great and strategic agency as its 6th Director General.

"I am confident that with your continuous support, and the calibre of persons in the incoming executive management and board, the agency will achieve the ideals that informed it's establishment in line with global best practices."

"As you already know, NIMASA has the core mandate of promoting and regulating shipping in the country. Concomitant with this mandate is the responsibility of ensuring safety of the Nigerian maritime domain for ease of maritime transportation, which is one of the critical catalysts for economic development.

"It is in realisation of this, and in pursuit of the Next Level agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration that I urge you all to join hands with us to build an enduring and prosperous maritime sector."

"On this note, I will like to thank my predecessor, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and indeed the outgoing board of the agency for their resilience, team spirit and vision to make NIMASA a leading maritime light on the African continent."

"I must acknowledge the great strides we have made in the area of maritime safety and security, particularly with the Deep Blue project and ensuring the enactment of the anti-piracy law.

"On expectations from us, we shall hit the ground running immediately. We shall study our handover notes diligently to ensure continuity of leadership for the maritime sector.

"I can assure you that we will consolidate on these efforts and take them further, as we continue to pursue the ideals of a viable Blue Economy for our country."

Speaking earlier, the former DG of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside commended President Muhammadu Buhari for picking Dr Jamoh, a technocrat and a maritime insider to replace him as DG.

He also stated how he transformed NIMASA from a reputation challenged agency to world class.

In his words, "We came with a broad agenda in 2016. we consistently focused on staff training both local and foreign and improved working conditions and welfare of our staff. What we boast of today are staff who are more knowledgeable and that can compete with their peers at any level both locally and internationally.

"We championed the greatest reform in maritime administration in the history of this agency, we changed the narrative and reinvigorated the industry and put NIMASA back on the international map.

"Today, our workers work around with pride because they know the nation value their contributions and we received support of international community like the IMO.

"Today, the IMO has confirmed that we are the second largest tonnage in Africa after Liberia. We are the first in Africa to put 7000 seafarers on Cabotage in one day. We are the first to publish the first maritime forecast and we have been doing that from 2019 till date and the next edition is ready to be made public."

Dakuku Makes History, Gets Pulled-Out Of NIMASA

Even though he was removed as Director General under very controversial circumstances, Dr Dakuku Peterside was yesterday ceremonially pulled-out of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by personnel of the Nigerian Navy who formed the agency’s Maritime Guard Command. They were assisted by the Police and others.

The pull-out was historic for the embattled ex-DG whom many thought was going to get re-appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since 1987 when NIMASA’s progenitor; the National Maritime Authourity (NMA) was founded up till yesterday, no Chef Executive has been so honoured.

Eat and let another eat!