The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has refuted reports in some online media claiming that it was in the process of concessioning its operations.
NIMASA’s Assistant Director of Public Relations, Osagie Edward, in a statement issued on Sunday, categorically denied these allegations, describing them as baseless fabrications orchestrated by both internal and external actors intent on exploiting inefficiencies within the current system.
He said following a comprehensive internal review, the current leadership of NIMASA identified outdated manual processes and fragmented systems as core challenges hampering operational efficiency and revenue assurance. In response, the agency resolved to embrace technology-driven reforms that will digitize its processes, strengthen oversight, and bring much-needed transparency to the maritime sector.
“To set the records straight, following a comprehensive internal review of operational systems, the current leadership of NIMASA resolved to embrace technology as a means of enhancing the agency’s capacity to deliver on its regulatory mandate more effectively and to bring into the coffers of government additional revenue to ensure funds due government does not end up in private hands.
“A pivotal innovation in this regard is the Maritime Enhanced Monitoring System (MEMS). This system brings digital traceability to the core of Nigeria’s maritime operations. MEMS provides real-time visibility into vessel movements, operational logs, and regulatory interactions. Through automated alerts, smart invoicing, and centralized data integration, NIMASA can now detect, document, and respond to maritime activities with greater precision and efficiency — eliminating unnecessary bottlenecks while strengthening compliance,” the statement read.
In the area of marine pollution control, Edward said NIMASA is deploying digital surveillance tools including satellite tracking, automated alerts, and digital logbooks. These tools drastically improve the agency’s ability to identify, document, and respond to pollution incidents promptly, while also enforcing accountability and recovery of environmental damages.
NIMASA urged the public to disregard the misleading narratives around a purported concession.
“It is important to emphasize that past revenue shortfalls experienced by the agency mainly stemmed from outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems, and insufficient digital enforcement mechanisms which allowed some external elements to capitalize on the loopholes for personal gains.
“The current reforms being implemented by NIMASA are focused squarely on overcoming these limitations. By investing in digital infrastructure and streamlining monitoring systems, the agency is positioning itself to fulfill its statutory obligations with transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
“The public is therefore advised to disregard the misleading reports and instead support NIMASA’s transformation journey as it aligns with the broader national objectives of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
“The agency remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime governance, ensuring environmental safety, and optimizing revenue for the nation. It is worthy of note that the Deep Blue Project of the agency which now enjoys global recognition also witnessed such resistance at the initial stage,” the statement added.
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