The Director General Of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has been elected as the new Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA).
His emergence also raises hope of Nigeria’s return to the Category ‘C’ of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Briefing newsmen on Friday after the closing ceremony of the 3rd AMMA conference tagged "Sustainable Use of Africa's Oceans and Seas" in Abuja , the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh said Peterside was unanimously elected after a closed- door meeting and business session by 32 member nations of the association.
Peterside will take-over from the Acting Chief Executive Officer of South African Maritime Administration (SAMSA);Mr Sobantu Tilayi.
Speaking on the nexus between the emergence of Dr Peterside and Nigeria quest for membership of a seat in the Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Jamoh said: "This election will serve as a platform to rally round other African countries, Asia, Europe so that we can get elected into class C of IMO."
He said Egypt would host the 2018 edition of the conference.
His words, "It was also agreed that the hosting right of AAMA coming up in 2018 has been ceded to Egypt while Namibia and Seychelles has the provisional hosting of 2019."
"The south Africa retains the secretariat. While Nigeria is taken the Presidency the South Africa will continue to maintain the secretariat," he concluded.
At a well-attended closing session, Tilayi, the outgoing Chairman described Peterside as a committed and dedicated technocrat that will, no doubt, take maritime administration to a higher level.
Many other participants expressed optimism in Peterside's leadership ability to improve on the fortunes of the continent through concerted maritime collaboration that will attract interest of African states through their various Maritime Administrations (MARADs).
The AAMA is the coordinating body for maritime administrations in Africa established to respond to Africa insignificant share of global investments in the maritime sector.
It was formed following the signing of the African Transport and Maritime Charter in 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to bring together all players in the African maritime sector.
The Association is an umbrella body of five African Maritime Stakeholders’ groups namely: Association of Maritime Administrations of Africa, Africa’s Ship Registry Forum, African Ship Owners Association as well as Africa Shippers’ Council and Seafarers’ Forum with the aim of promoting the development of Africa’s maritime regulatory and maritime environment.
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