As I have heard and read, NIMASA is the top promotional and regulatory maritime agency. They were merged together with two former parastatals of the federal ministry of transport that is National Maritime Authority (NMA) and Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (JOMALIC) and this was done in August 1st 2006 by the approval of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. As at then, the name was NAMASA which was later changed to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Olamilekan
Ipaja, Lagos
I haven’t heard neither do i know anything about the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
Yemi Coker
Ogudu, Lagos
I didn’t know about NIMASA until a particular day when I watched news on one of the TV Stations and saw a former Director General of the agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi walking with the aid of crutches at a Federal high court in Lagos after been arraigned for allegedly siphoning billions of naira.
Another I also read last year was when the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi visited Lagos to view the ports and other agencies in the maritime sector and was displeased at the situation of things in NIMASA that he had to order for the staff and financial audit of the agency and this year the proposed Nigeria Maritime University was cancelled by the Federal government. So many controversies in the agency yet from what I heard this agency is meant to be an apex regulatory and promotional maritime agency.
Martha Akhaile
Ogba, Lagos
I got to know about Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) with the corruption scandal going on in the agency. So many scandals on alleged theft running into billions of naira by their ex-boss, recruitment and promotion scandal and so on
Moa
Yaba, Lagos
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the apex regulatory and promotional maritime agency. The agency was created from the merger of National Maritime Authority and Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council which were both former parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Transport on the 1st August 2006. The agency was established primarily for the administration of maritime safety seafarers standards and security, shipping regulation, promotion of commercial shipping and cabotage activities, pollution prevention and control in the marine environment. The agency also implements domesticated International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.
Edafe Sillo
Warri, Delta State
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was created on the 1st of August 2006.
Esther Olayinka
Lagos
I know that NIMASA was established through a shipping policy decree on May 11, 1987 then it was called National Maritime Authority (NMA). Then, it was under the auspices of the federal ministry of transport. NMA and JOMALIC (Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council) was conjoined in August 2006 to form NAMASA which was later changed to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). NIMASA mandate is to ensure orderly development, protection and manpower training in the shipping industry as well as to monitor marine pollution and spillage in the Nigeria waterways amongst others.
Lately, NIMASA has been in the news on so many scandals like one i read in the national dailies that really baffled me was how an ex-boss of NIMASA siphoned N546.8million to a fashion designer who no contract was awarded to or executed by him. There was also a video i watched online on how a former Director General of the same agency, Patrick Akpobolokemi was re-arrested over alleged fraud running into billions of naira at the Federal High Court at Ikoyi when he was coming out from another case. This really tells of how corruption as gone deep into government agencies in the country.
Daniel Edward
Abule Egba, Lagos
I don’t know much about NIMASA. I only know it is associated with the maritime sector
Feyisayo Sorinolu
Imo State
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) was known as the National Maritime Authority (NMA). The agency is responsible for regulations related to Nigerian shipping, maritime labour and coastal waters. NIMASA also encourages Nigerians to enter the maritime industry. The agency has been in the news over several corruption scandals, read on online blogs of how billions of naira was allegedly siphoned by the former Director General, Patrick Akpobolokemi. Another is how N546.8million was paid into a fashion designer’s account who didn’t execute any contract for the agency by an ex-boss and also the proposed maritime university project by NIMASA which was recently cancelled by the Federal Government.
Emmanuella Davis
Ikeja, Lagos
I don’t know anything about the agency (NIMASA), only know that it is about maritime.
Chibuike Nwani
Surulere, Lagos
I know NIMASA is a maritime administration and safety agency that administers and regulates shipping licenses, establishes maritime training and safety standards and they also provide maritime search and rescue services.
Damilola
Yaba, Lagos
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is a promotional and regulatory maritime agency. The agency core functions are to administer and regulate shipping licenses and certification of seafarers, provide maritime search and rescue services and control and prevent maritime pollution. They also regulate safety of shipping as regards the construction of ships and navigation, provide direction and ensure compliance with vessels security measures and also enhance and administer the provision of cabotage act.
Mary Ayodele
Ipaja, Lagos
In my own view, The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the head of all other shipping sector in Nigeria.
Jude Nwankwo
Surulere, Lagos
I have never heard of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Joshua Ayodele
Ipaja, Lagos
I know NIMASA is responsible for regulations related to Nigerian shipping, coastal waters and maritime labour. They also provide search and rescue services and encourage Nigerians to enter the maritime industry.
Deborah Oshomi
Sango, Ota
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) formerly the National Maritime Authority (NMA) is responsible for the regulations related to Nigerian shipping, maritime labour and coastal waters. The agency also undertakes inspections and provides search and rescue services. NIMASA was created in August 2006 when NMA was merged with JOMALIC that is the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council, which were both former agencies of the Federal Ministry of Transport. Under NIMASA establishment act, 5% of the annual income is to support the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) and 35% of income is to be used to develop maritime infrastructure. Since last year, NIMASA has been in the news on so many controversies. I also read in the newspaper that the former ex-militant Government Ekpemupolo popularly known as Tompolo acquired warships on behalf of the then NIMASA Director General, Patrick Akpobolokemi who later dismissed the report that the acquired warships were not for the agency but was for the Nigerian Navy and other relevant government agencies in the fight against piracy and other related crimes in the nation’s waterways. This same former Director General has been accused lately of alleged fraud running into billions of naira.
Ngozi Uche
Agbado, Lagos
In my own view, NIMASA is the administration set up for the safety of the maritime sector.
Toyosi Oduwole
Surulere, Lagos
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.