The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has said there is need to strengthen the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the Republic of Korea in the maritime industry, as the two countries stand to derive mutual benefits from such relationship.
This disclosure was made during a courtesy visit by the South Korean Consul General to Nigeria, Lee Younghoan to the Agency.
While recognising the strategic position of Korea as a great ship building nation, Peterside appealed to the Consul General on the need for qualified Nigerian seafarers to be placed onboard Korean vessels operating in the Nigerian maritime domain; noting that Nigeria has a pool of qualified seafarers and other competent maritime personnel that can adequately serve the global maritime industry.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to tackling piracy and related forms of criminal activities at sea.
“Nigeria is poised to tackle the menace of piracy and we have recorded great successes in the past three months and our vision is to have safe and secure oceans with zero piracy activities in the next one year”, he said.
The Korean envoy commended NIMASA for its efforts in fighting piracy on the nation’s waterways and also appealed for more surveillance and security in safeguarding lives and property on the nation’s waterways.
Lee Younghoan assured NIMASA of the readiness of the Korean government to support Nigeria especially in the areas of safety and security.
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