Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has debunked allegation that the ongoing restructuring of the agency was a vendetta and a ploy to weed out those whose employments were considered inappropriate.
Peterside stated this when he received executive members of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN), led by its President, Ifeyinwa Obi who paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Wednesday.
He said the restructuring, being fast-tracked by his administration was the idea of maritime stakeholders who observed that NIMASA as presently constituted is performing expanded functions it inherited from the defunct Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) and the defunct National Maritime Authority (NMA).
According to him, the restructuring has to take place to avoid a possible collapse of the organisation, saying the new structure aims to create standard procedure for effective maritime administration.
He said, “There is no truth in the allegation that the restructuring is based on vendetta or inappropriate employments. It is in line with stakeholders observations. What we are doing is to fast-track the restructuring. I can assure Nigerians that the restructuring will not lead to reduction in staff strength.”
Peterside also bemoaned the 51 percent drop in the inbound and outbound vessels to Nigerian ports and its implications on the nation’s economy.
He however assured that his administration would continue to engage stakeholders at all times and encourage them to buy into the development of the industry’s potentials.
In the area of security and safety, Peterside said stakeholders misunderstood the role of NIMASA in the area of safety of vessels on the nation’s waterways. He said NIMASA was not set up to go after pirates but its duty is to create platform to effect enforcement of safety of vessels that are coming in or leaving the shores of Nigeria.
He added that the agency would outsource the platform and assured that his administration would not compromise safety and security of the nation’s territorial waters.
The NIMASA boss praised the role being played by maritime correspondents towards the development of the industry and enjoined them not to relent.
Earlier in her address, MARAN President, Ifeyinwa Obi said the agenda of the Director-General for the industry would speed up rapid development of the industry. She assured the NIMASA boss that the maritime press would continue to work with him to actualise his agenda.
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