The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has noted that to achieve the Agency's vision of becoming the leading maritime administration in Africa advancing Nigeria’s global maritime goals, it is important that there is no disconnect between policy formulation and policy implementation.
Dr. Peterside was speaking at the opening of a strategy retreat for members of the Board of NIMASA holding in Calabar, Cross River State from November 21 -23, 2016.
Describing the Board as the bridge between policy formulation and policy implementation, the NIMASA DG expressed gratitude that the Board was peopled by individuals with proven integrity and a commitment to the service of the nation who will support the re-invention of NIMASA.
According to Dr. Peterside, "the Governing Board of this Agency as the bridge between policy making and policy implementation is most suited to drive this process of NIMASA and maritime industry self -reinvention. We are privileged that the supervising ministry and the President of our country have absolute confidence in the Board and its ability to help Management achieve the much-desired 'acceleration' NIMASA and the industry needs".
He observed that the strategy retreat is aimed at serving as a melting pot of ideas between the Board and the Management of the Agency with the objective of making NIMASA the most efficient, effective and responsive regulatory institution in Nigeria, that contributes in diverse ways to the economic growth of the country.
To achieve this, the DG said that information flow must be seamless. "We must do all that is necessary to eliminate poor communication flow. Both Board and Management must always have their eyes on the big picture and not allow distractions clothed in short term pecuniary benefits".
While highlighting the strategic importance of marine transportation to Nigeria's economy, Dr. Peterside emphasised that marine transportation depends on enforcement of laws, rules, conventions and regulations to guarantee safe, secure and environmentally responsible shipping.
"It is thus our fate that our Agency, NIMASA must be an accelerator rather than a brake, in this economic engine. To this end, the Governing Board of NIMASA, Management of the Agency, industry stakeholders, our partners in the military services, other collaborating Federal Agencies, international regulators, and our supervising ministry (Ministry of Transportation) should work collaboratively to optimize marine transportation and lead the development of indigenous commercial shipping, which is our mandate" the DG averred.
He commended the resource persons at the retreat who he said will assist members of the Board in understanding more deeply, the industry they have been called to give direction at this time of national economic challenge.
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