As the four-year tenure of the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, ends on Sunday 10th March 2024, there is anxiety in the agency on who will be appointed as the next chief executive.
Jamoh was appointed NIMASA Director-General by former President Muhammadu Buhari on 4th March 2020. He, however, formally assumed office on 10th March 2020, taking over from Dakuku Peterside, who was denied a second tenure by the former President.
While staff and stakeholders wait with bated breath for President Tinubu’s new appointee into the position, many interested persons have started jostling for the top maritime industry position.
On Tuesday, Jamoh, who has also been lobbying for a second term appointment, insinuated that some persons interested in his job might be mounting smear campaign against him.
In a statement titled “Social Media Campaign of Calumny Against NIMASA DG”, Jamoh described an allegation that the sum of N1.5 trillion and USD9 million was found in his personal account as false.
“We wish to state categorically that there is no iota of truth in this allegation as this social media post had been earlier circulated over three years ago in 2021.
“It is worthy of note that in 2021, when the allegations were then circulated, NIMASA DG had personally requested the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to investigate it.
“In the petition he personally signed and dated May 24th, 2021, Dr Jamoh complained that the viral story has impugned his integrity, character and family name.
This re-circulation of the 2021 video is the handiwork of mischief makers who are bent on misinforming unsuspecting members of the public for interest best known to them and their sponsors,” Jamoh said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Osagie Edward.
Opinions are divided on Jamoh’s stewardship at NIMASA, with many stakeholders expressing dissatisfaction with his inability to improve the fortunes of indigenous ship owners and for his failure to put into productive use a N50 billion floating dock acquired by the agency six years ago.
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