The pioneer Executive Director (Operations) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Engr. Oliver Ogbagu, is dead.
Ogbuagu died in the early hours of Sunday after a brief illness, according to family sources.
The deceased was an Assistant Director in the Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standards department of the defunct National Maritime Authority (NMA) before his appointment as the first Executive Director (Operations) of NIMASA on August 1, 2006 when the agency was created.
He was appointed alongside Mfon Usoro (Director General) and Dr Ade Dosunmu (Executive Director, Finance and Administration) to nurture the new agency.
However, Usoro and Ogbuagbu did not appear to get along during their brief working relationship leading to the removal of both by then President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 7, 2017. Dosunmu was subsequently appointed the new Director General of the agency, while a new set of Executive Directors were appointed.
Ogbuagbu, who was a marine engineer, later worked in the private sector serving as the Director General of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA).
Following the news of his death, the Director General of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, visited the family home of the deceased to register his condolence.
NIMASA spokesman, Osagie Edward, quoted the NIMASA DG as describing the deceased as “a dear friend and professional colleague”.
He prayed to God to grant the deceased eternal rest as well as give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
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