The Nigerian Maritime
Director General NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh and his NIMET counterpart, Mansur Bako Matazu signed on behalf of their respective agencies.
The MoU is designed as a framework for NIMENT to provide meteorological services for NIMASA to improve the welfare of seafarers and safety of navigation of vessels in Nigerian territorial waters in line with recommendations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Speaking shortly after the signing ceremony, the NIMASA Director General expressed confidence that the forecast for maritime safety and security through NIMENT would not only improve safety of navigation in Nigerian waters, but will greatly enhance the confidence of the international community in the Nigerian maritime sector.
“The objective of the MoU between NIMASA and NIMET is to enhance the capacity of both agencies with a view to providing relevant meteorological services to seafarers and ocean going vessels that will allow sustainable development of the marine environment and delivery of products and services to the various sectors related to maritime safety, security, marine environment protection and other maritime activities.
“It is clear that the collaboration between NIMASA and NIMET will help the maritime sector fill the gaps earlier identified by the International Maritime Organisation during it’s last audit of the country’s maritime space,” Jamoh said.
On his part, the Director-General of NIMET, Mansur Bako Matazu, assured that the maritime industry would benefit from the partnership in the same way that the aviation sector has been benefiting.
“Recently, NIMET invested over N720 million in equipment for maritime services. We are fully ready to make our services count in the maritime sector and we are sure that the maritime community globally is proud of this Nigerian initiative,” he said.
As part of the MoU, NIMASA pledged to provide the mechanism for the dissemination of marine meteorological information to seafarers; make provision for calibration, consultancy, and certification of instruments and equipment as well as to ensure periodic training of staff engaged in meteorological observation.
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