The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has assured that the National Assembly is working on the speedy passage of the anti-piracy Bill that is currently before the lawmakers.
The assurance was given by Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Umar Bago, who led the law makers to Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on an oversight visit to the agency’s headquarters last week.
He noted that the bill will help to nib illegalities on the country’s waterways in the bud. He also expressed delight in the operation of the Satellites Surveillance System put in place by the NIMASA to check and monitor the activities of vessels operating within Nigeria’s territorial waters.
He also applauded NIMASA for the successful berthing of its recently-acquired modular floating dockyard, describing the facility as an asset that should be promptly put into operation for revenue generation. “Let us put that asset to use and generate revenue”, the Committee Chairman stated.
He expressed confidence in the management of NIMASA, saying his committee is impressed with the agency’s budget performance in 2018. Bago, however, noted that there was room for improvement in the remaining part of the year and in 2019.
The House Committee Chairman’s remarks followed a presentation by NIMASA on the 2018 budget performance, which was based on the five-point transformation strategy of the Dr. Dakuku Peterside-led management. Bago observed that there had been improvements in the agency’s activities, saying it is a welcome development for the country’s maritime industry.
“We wish to assure you that as a responsible Committee, we are poised to continue to give NIMASA the required legislative backing in ensuring that it achieves its mandate in order to realise a robust maritime sector,” Bago said.
Responding, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr.Dakuku Peterside, expressed gratitude to the Committee for their support to the agency.
Dakuku, who was represented by the agency’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Mr. Bashir Jamoh, reiterated NIMASA’s commitment to working together with the Committee to achieve the common goal of growing the maritime industry and developing the country.
Dakuku said NIMASA remained committed to keeping up with international standards.
“On our part as an Agency, we are working on improving the entire maritime sector on a daily basis, from good to better and to best. Through this, we will be able to compete favourably with our counterparts in other maritime climes,” he said.
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