The Federal Government has congratulated Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative (ARP) to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Dikko Bala, over his election as the Chairman, International Mobile Satellite Organisation (IMSO).
The General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Chief Michael Ajayi, said in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos, that the election was conducted on Tuesday in London, during the 24th Assembly of the IMSO.
The statement said Bala, who was unanimously elected, would occupy the prestigious position for two consecutive years.
“The commendation was given on behalf of the Federal Government by the Head of Nigerian Delegation to the International body, Ms. Hadiza Usman,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the statement as saying.
Usman, the Managing Director of NPA, described the election of Bala as a big achievement for Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.
Speaking on behalf of the Federal Government and Nigerians, the NPA managing director assured the Assembly that Nigeria and all other member states would be fully committed to the work of the IMSO.
Usman also gave an assurance that the international organization would succeed in all its programmes.
She said she was happy that the new satellite technologies would ensure safety and security of life at sea.
Usman thanked delegates from all member states for their support and trust in appointing a distinguished Nigerian as the Chairman.
She assured the delegates that the IMSO Assembly would be run by the new Chairman in the best interest of the body and all concerned.
Usman described the new chairman as “hardworking who has never been found wanting in the execution of his mandate”.
She commended the Directorate of the Assembly for always willing to support the member states despite its limited resources.
Usman, therefore, called on the new chairman to always ensure that the Directorate is properly resourced and motivated to achieve its desired results.
“Always remember that the primary responsibility of IMSO is ensuring that lives are continuously being saved within the maritime domain, among others,” Usman said.
IMSO is the inter-governmental organization whose primary purpose is the oversight of certain public satellite safety and security communication services provided by mobile satellite communication systems.
IMSO also acts as the International Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT) Coordinator, appointed by the IMO.
IMSO is to ensure the operation of the international system for the LRIT worldwide by auditing and reviewing the performance of the system.
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