The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has given a posthumous award to a young man, Joseph Blackson who died in 2018 while rescuing 13 others involved in a boat accident at Bakama in the Degema Local Government Area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The award was part of the various honours bestowed on deserving maritime stakeholders and long serving staff of NIMASA at the agency’s Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards which held in Lagos last weekend.
Blackson, a young contractor was given Award of Bravery and for his heroic effort at saving 13 passengers, but lost his life during the boat accident that claimed the lives of six persons.
Also, NIMASA staff who have served for 15 years, 20 years, 25years and 30 years were honored at the ceremony.
The ceremony drew out the creme-de-la-creme of the Nigerian society including former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd) Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote and the renowned entrepreneur, Tony Elumelu. Others were the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II, Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Oba Otudeko among others.
Other dignitaries were the governors of Edo and Kebbi States, The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Budget and Planning, Udo Udoma, including Heads of maritime agencies, Ship Owners and captains of maritime industry, amongst other stakeholders.
At the occasion tagged, "A Nautical Night of Excellence" Chairman of the occasion, Mr Boss Mustapha who was represented by the Minister of Budget, Udo Udoma, commended the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the Minister of Transportation; Rotimi Amaechi for transforming the organization.
“The DG and his team and the Board are doing well in NIMASA. They have transformed the organisation. I will also like to congratulate the Minister of Transportation because it is through his guidance and supervision that all these transformations have taken place. He is an action man, somebody that makes things happen”, he said.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside reiterated the fact that the maritime industry remains the backbone of international trade and that the Nigerian maritime sector has made remarkable achievements in the last two years.
Speaking further, he noted that despite the challenges being faced in the sector, the stakeholders’ commitment, professionalism and resilience are the reasons NIMASA is doing well.
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