The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi[/font][font=Lucida Sans Unicode] at the weekend urged the new board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure the completion of the deep blue project.

The maritime security project, also known as the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, is designed to comprehensively tackle insecurity on Nigeria’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Gulf of Guinea.

Amaechi, who spoke during the inauguration of the new board in Abuja, said the project was critical to maritime security in Nigeria and the entire West and Central Africa region. He about 60 per cent of the project’s cost had been paid by the Federal Government.

The minister urged the management and board to “go and complete the Deep Blue Project,” arguing that the success of NIMASA is to a great extent, dependent on completion of the project.

Chairman of the Board, Hon Asita O. Asita, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour bestowed on them. Asita pledged to work harmoniously with the NIMASA management to deliver the agency’s mandate.

“If we must trade as a country, we need the waterways to be safe,” he said, adding that the security of the maritime domain was of utmost importance to the country. He said NIMASA cannot afford to play with the issues of safety and security.

Other members of the 10-member board are its Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Victor Ochei; Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Hon. Chudi Offodile; and Executive Director, Operations, Shehu Ahmed.

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