By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) stands at the threshold of moving into its new state-of-the-art headquarters, yet the decision to postpone the move has raised questions and sparked rumours.
While no official confirmation has been provided, insiders suggest that NIMASA might be strategically waiting for the appointment of the new Minister of Transportation before making the move.
Recall that the agency had in November 2022 commissioned the new building under the then Minister of Transportation; Muazu Jaji Sambo. However, since the commissioning, the agency has been mute about relocating its operations and staff to a palatial building which is located on Victoria Island in Lagos.
The delay has also heightened anxiety among employees of the agency and elicited divergent reactions from industry stakeholders.
Our correspondent who visited the new office observed that work on equipping the edifice has reached an advanced stage, with completion reportedly standing at about 85 per cent.
The facility, according to the agency is poised to accommodate cutting-edge communication systems, comprehensive training resources, and enhanced coordination capabilities.
Checks by our correspondent revealed that NIMASA had in April this year commissioned four boats aimed at further enhancing the daily commuting of staff to the new office.
This move, according to the agency is anticipated to streamline the challenge of commuting for the agency’s employees, ensuring a seamless transition between the old office in Apapa and the new location.
However, all may not be smooth with this transition, as some staff members, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, have expressed concerns about the imminent relocation.
They complained that the new location is significantly far from the familiar Apapa where they are currently based. Many of them said they are not too eager to relocate to Victoria Island, especially considering the recent removal of fuel subsidies, which has led to a rise in transportation costs.
The staff members are apprehensive about the increased commuting cost and the added time it would take for them to reach the new office, especially considering that many of them reside on the mainland and the suburb of Lagos.
They also expressed preference for the old location, which according to them resonates more, because Apapa and not Victoria Island remains the port city.
A particular staff was more repugnant about the relocation. According to her, the new office is too removed from the immediate stakeholders “that we are supposed to be serving. How do you expect them to come to Victoria Island as they do on daily basis, to Apapa”?
According to her, unless NIMASA does not relocate with its core department, “it will be a challenge for stakeholders. It will be a challenge for staff and even journalists too”.
While the cause of the delayed relocation remains unconfirmed, speculation has arisen regarding a potential link to the appointment of the new Minister of Transportation.
Sources within NIMASA hint at the possibility that the agency is awaiting the official announcement of the new minister before proceeding with the relocation.
Ahead of this, the agency has intensified efforts at fully equipping the edifice. Unofficial sources also confirmed to our correspondent, that as it is now the new structure is ready to be occupied by NIMASA staff.
