The bill to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Act 2006 has passed the first reading on the floor of the Senate, according to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun.
Eshinlokun, who announced this during a visit by the committee to NIMASA operational offices in Lagos, noted that the upper legislative chamber is committed to formulating policies that will ensure Nigerians enjoy the benefits of the blue economy.
He said an evaluation of the existing maritime legal framework was necessary to ascertain gaps for possible review, pledging that the Senate remains committed to supporting the maritime sector, in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.
“I have to say on behalf of my colleagues that we are with you on this journey, and we will not hesitate to support your vision, in as much as such it is geared towards enhancing the potential of the maritime sector for national growth and development.
“With the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry by Mr. President, a message has been passed to all stakeholders that the maritime industry has a huge role to play in our nation building. We must align with the vision of the President, and we must support the government to achieve a better country for all Nigerians,” he said.
The committee members acknowledged NIMASA’s investment in acquisition and building of a strong maritime safety and security architecture, reiterating that such effort was a confirmation that the agency was conscious of its mandate and strategic status as a major contributor to the country’s sustainable development.
In his welcome remarks, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, noted that the agency is committed to both human capacity and infrastructural development.
“NIMASA is working tirelessly to secure our waters and by extension the Gulf of Guinea. The time has come for us as a nation to build on the recent gains in the area of safety and security of our waterways. Rest assured that NIMASA is utilising appropriated funds judiciously, evident in our investment in infrastructure. We will continue in the direction President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pointed with the creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry,” Jamoh said.
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