The secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has promised the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ((NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, of enduring partnership with his organisation..
Dominguez also scored Nigeria high for leading the charge to maintain the safety and security of commercial shipping in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
He asserted that the safety in the Red Sea had led to heavier shipping traffic in the region.
He spoke at a recent meeting with Mobereola at the IMO headquarters in London.
The IMO boss applauded the NIMASA DG for engaging the technical team at the IMO on how Nigeria can address all identified gaps from the 2016 audit conducted by the organisation.
He said, “I want to appreciate the effort of Nigeria on the progress made so far as regards security in the Gulf of Guinea region. There were concerns due to the situation in the Red Sea and resultant pressure around the Gulf of Guinea but we are pleased that the situation has remained the same.
“We at IMO have been working with Nigeria through NIMASA and we desire that the partnership continues. I am also happy that you, DG, are meeting with IMO technical staff on how to close all identified gaps before the next audit cycle. This is a step in the right direction and we are ready to give any technical support,” he stated.
The IMO secretary-general hinted that the organisation is working on enhancing the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) to provide better services to member states in terms of information management.
On his part, Mobereola said his administration would pay attention to details on how Nigeria can become a voice to be reckoned with in global maritime diplomacy, adding that the federal government is committed to sustaining the momentum of recent achievements in safety and security within the maritime domain.
Mobereola said, “My tenure will leverage existing relationships both locally and internationally to sustain the momentum in safety and security within the Nigerian maritime domain.
The creation of the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry in Nigeria by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu emphasises the policy direction of this administration. Our goal is to ensure that Nigeria plays an active leading role not just in the region or the IMO, but in the global maritime space.”
The NIMASA boss said his meeting with IMO technical staff was aimed at ensuring that NIMASA and the IMO are aligned before the next audit cycle.
“I discovered today that some critical information regarding our administration and the technical team at the IMO is obsolete, and we are reviewing it to update it immediately. We do not see the IMO audit as an examination but rather as a guide to assist Nigeria in achieving its potential; hence, my decision to get personally involved. We need to get the basics right,” he said.
He revealed that the minister of marine and blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, had constituted a committee to address all areas of concern raised in the 2016 IMO audit report. This includes reviewing NIMASA’s enabling laws and effectively implementing a corrective action plan.
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