In a bid to strengthen capacity in Nigeria’s maritime sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have commenced discussions on strategies for capacity building within the sector. This collaborative effort aims to align with the Federal Government’s vision of repositioning the maritime industry.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, disclosed this development during a courtesy visit from the BOI management team, led by the Executive Director of Large Enterprises, Mrs. Ifeoma Uz’Okpala. Speaking through NIMASA’s Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Jibril Abba, Mobereola emphasized the importance of partnership in driving growth within the sector.
According to Mobereola, NIMASA’s mandate includes not just ensuring safety and security but also fostering capacity development. He highlighted that this collaboration with BOI is in line with the Agency’s commitment to achieving the Federal Government’s goal of transforming the maritime sector, particularly in light of the newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
“The Agency is focused on developing capacity in addition to safety, security, and maritime labor. This partnership will help us actualize the vision to reposition the maritime sector under the Federal Government’s new initiative,” Mobereola stated.
Mrs. Uz’Okpala, on behalf of the BOI, reiterated the Bank’s readiness to support NIMASA’s efforts, underlining that collaboration is key to achieving a comprehensive capacity-building initiative. She stressed that boosting capacity in the maritime sector would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth and industrial development.
The Bank of Industry, Nigeria’s oldest and largest Development Finance Institution (DFI), is primarily owned by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) with a 94.80% stake, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) holding 5.19%, and private shareholders controlling 0.01%. This partnership with NIMASA is expected to bring about significant improvements in the maritime industry, further boosting economic growth through enhanced sectoral capacity.
