The House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Education and Administration has urged the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to put the Floating Dock acquired by the agency to work.
Speaking during an oversight visit to the agency, the chairman of the committee, Linda Ikpeazu said that the floating dock has the potential for revenue generation, while urging the agency to speedy up and put it to work.
Speaking on the Command Control Communication Intelligence (C4I) of NIMASA, the chairman also urged the agency to ensure that the facility is integrated with other maritime agencies platforms to ensure maximum security of our waterways.
She also noted that it is important that the platform is independent of external interference.
According to her "we have seen the floating dock, that’s a very big project, it has been completed, but has not been put to use, but you have to do what needs to be done and make sure that it is moved to a permanent site, so has to put it to work.
"Obviously where it is now, it can’t work, it needs a place where the water is deeper and of course the area has to be prepared for it to operate.
"That floating dock is a very big project that is going to bring a lot of revenue into the country and like it said, that is one of the revenue generating agencies in the country.
"So it is of interest to us that it generates revenue, so whatever has to be done by us to support them will be done.
"Also on the deep blue project, we have seen some of the vessels and more vessels are still coming in, we are briefed in it, it’s a project that hasn’t be completed yet.
"We are still coming back because the project is not completed yet, this is just an overview inspection.
"Also the C4I needs to be integrated to the other maritime platforms so that the resources will not be a waste, So NIMASA have to do all that has to be done.
"If we can actually operate it the way it ought to be operated, then we have really achieved a lot and that’s why it is very important that the Nigerian factor does not come into play.
"Because if we are talking about bunkering and all that stuff, let’s face it, who are the people that are involved. So it is important that there is no interference with the C4I"
On his part, the Director General NIMASA Dr. Dakuku Peterside while welcoming the House of Reps members, said the agency has enjoyed working together with the members, stating that the agency does not deserve the level of support it has got from the committee.
He said the main activity of the agency is to ensure that ships calling in the country are safe and secure and that they meet international standards.
He informed that the agency is confronting the issue of piracy frontally, by investing in intelligence, acquiring assets, providing legal frame work and the retraining of personnel that is currently working with the agency to confront piracy.
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