Six months after his appointment, Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr. Dakuku Peterside has embarked on a tour of the agency’s facilities in the Lagos maritime axis.
Peterside visited the Western Zone office in Lagos on Monday where he assured that the three zones of the agency would be restructured and empowered to ensure efficiency in the performance of NIMASA’s core functions.
He however ruled out visit to the offices of Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), even as he maintained that it is unethical for a regulator to visit those it is supposed to regulate.
The DG however visited the Secretariat of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) in Apapa Lagos.
Shipping Position Daily correspondent had contacted Dr. Peterside last weekend on his relationship with Nigerian shipowners, when he confirmed that he was yet to meet with them since he became Director General.
The NIMASA boss described shipowners as key stakeholders, but he vowed not pay familiarisation visit to their association. He also said they have never requested to see him since he was appointed.
It would be recalled that Peterside's predecessor, Patrick Akpobolokemi on assumption of office paid a working visit to the secretariat of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA).
But Peterside told our correspondent that, "how on earth can a regulator go to see and pay courtesy call on the person he is appointed to regulate? It is just like the NJC (National Judicial Council) going about to visit Judges or the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) going from MTN to Globalcom offices".
When he was informed by our correspondent that his predecessor had done so, Peterside said, "if he did, then it is absolutely and incurably wrong".
Factional President of NISA; Mr Aminu Umar had in an interview with ShippingPosition Daily correspondent advised Peterside and his new management to continue to engage stakeholders, especially the ship owners.
According to him "the real partners for NIMASA today is the Nigerian Shipowners, we expect them to engage Nigerian Shipowners, to seat down and see how to improve the environment"
"We expect that they should have supportive policies and implementation of the regulations so that the more Nigerian shipowners, the more revenue and jobs NIMASA for NIMASA"
He confirmed that NISA is yet to have any meeting with the new management yet, but that "we intend to meet with them to tell them what we expect from them and what they expect from us so that we can all work together to improve the sector".
The NIMASA DG on his visit to the Western Zone however frowned at condition of the facilities at the zone.
Dakuku explained that all the powers of NIMASA will no longer reside at the head office, but assured that the zones will be empowered to carry out its operational responsibilities while the head office will only take charge of policies.
The NIMASA helmsman noted that the economic situation in the country makes it imperative for the maritime industry which is the second largest income earner for the country to be taken seriously.
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