The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, warns Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) against misuse of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which is believed to have accumulated to the tune of over N50billion.
Amaechi gave the warning yesterday in Abuja while inaugurating the Governing Boards of NIMASA and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
He said that the NIMASA had two broad mandates: to promote the development of indigenous commercial shipping capacity in international and coastal shipping trade, regulate and promote maritime safety, security, marine pollution and maritime labour.
“I doubt if NIMASA is doing that but I hope it starts doing that soon.
“I’m not sure that NIMASA in the past complied with the Cabotage Act. The last administration in NIMASA virtually spent all the money. The money in the cabotage fund is not for NIMASA to build universities or maritime faculties in universities but to improve shipping activities,” he said.
Amaechi tasked both boards to set operational administrative policies in accordance with the government’s policy aimed at assisting the agencies achieve their mandates.
He also charged them to measure performance against targets and introduce broad policy measures that would curtail deviations and ensure targets were achieved.
The NPA board is chaired by Emmanuel Adesoye while NIMASA is chaired by Major-Gen. Jonathan Idia Garba (rtd).
Amaechi tasked the boards to foster harmonious working relationship with the management of the agencies to achieve set goals. He advised them to adhere to principle of zero tolerance for corruption.
Responding on behalf of the NIMASA board, Major-Gen. Garba said that the board would realise its outlined objectives.
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