The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is the zenith regulatory and promotional maritime agency charged with the responsibility to grip, handle and clench all maritime related matters for the overall interest of Nigeria. The agency was created from the merger of National Maritime Authority and Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council (former parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Transport) on August 1, 2006 with the obligation of regulating the maritime industry in Nigeria. Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Adol Peterside, on assumption of offi ce on March 10, 2016 took the bull by the horn to resuscitate the agency and achieve its mandate. Th is has earned him the commendation of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Th is feat is not unexpected as the DG was a member of the House of Representatives (AndoniOpobo/Nkoro) and committee chairman of the Petroleum Resources (Downstream) committee. Prior to being elected to the House of Representatives, Peterside served twice as commissioner for works (2007-2011) in Rivers state, where he is renowned to have judiciously executed the administration’s vision of transforming the state’s infrastructure landscape. His stellar record of public service spans from being special assistant to the Rivers state governor to being chairman of Opobo-Nkoro Local Government where he was adjudged the most outstanding chairman in the state by various state and international agencies. He also served concurrently on the board of a number of federal agencies. In 2015, burdened by a commitment to his people and nudged by the desire for a greater Rivers state, he contested for governor of the state on the platform of the country’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Also he lost to Governor Nyesome Wike, Peterside said, “Th e blood of those who were killed during last year’s election in the state will demand for justice.” Th is implies that having lost at the Supreme Court, Peterside is seeking divine intervention. He continued: “We are not deterred, we are not dismayed. Our fi rst position is that we have accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court, though, with some form of reservations. But, we have no alternative. So, that verdict has been accepted but we also know that the blood of all those people who were killed on the 11th of April; all those people who were killed will be crying for justice. We have not heard the end of this matter. If you serve a living God, you have no cause to worry, unless nobody died in the cause of the election, unless they did not use violence on our people, unless, they did not soil their hands, then, they will go scot free. But if they killed one life, if they killed people, if people died, if blood was spilled in his land, nobody who had a hand in it, who participated in the meeting, will ever go scot free.” Peterside, who hails from Biriye, Opobo Kingdom of Rivers State obtained Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences ( Hematology), MBA and a PhD from the University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt. He is also an alumnus of Kellogg School of management, Georgia State University, Atlanta and Harvard-Kennedy school, Harvard University is performing to the expectation of Nigerians and our venerated President Buhari inclusive. Th is has attracted the encomiums poured in justifi cation of the NIMASA helmsman, which must be supported by all. Analysts believe that Nigeria has a chance of returning to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), under the leadership of Peterside. In fact, the DG’s recent eff ort to restore the country’s leadership position in global maritime community this year is commendable. Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative (APR) at the IMO, Mr. Bala Dikko, while speaking at the Nigerian IMO offi ce in London, noted that the steps taken by the present NIMASA management has led to a great improvement of the country’s relationship with IMO and other maritime administrations who are members of the international body. Th is is in line with President Buhari’s drive to return the nation to global reckoning. On the recent conference of Association of African Maritime Administration (AAMA), which was hosted by Nigeria, Dikko re-affi rmed that the IMO has restated her commitment to support, when possible, regular meetings of heads of maritime administrations in Africa, at frequencies to be determined by the continental body. He expressed satisfaction with the decision of the continental body to encourage regional cooperation and coordination to enhance information sharing and regulatory governance among members. IMO said this has the potentials to assist in combating the menace of piracy and other maritime crimes while maintaining a balance between security and the facilitation of global trade which is the hallmark for the sustainability and enhancement in maritime businesses in line with global best practice. People of intrinsic worth like Dr Peterside make institutions work efficiently and NIMASA is a reference point. Stakeholders in the maritime sector agree that since Peterside took charge of NIMASA, the agency has been turned around for the better. Since its creation in 2007, NIMASA has seldom been at the centre of national discourse as it is now. Peterside has been able to do the needful stakeholders expected all year long. Certainly, Peterside came to NIMASA to uphold tenaciously to its mission and vision which defi nes his job. No wonder, at the end of the AAMA conference, the DG was elected to lead the continental body in recognition of his eff ort. An elated President Buhari could not hide his joy at the election of Peterside as chairman of AAMA. In a press statement signed by Femi Adesina, the president said he has no doubt Peterside was elected because of what he has been doing at NIMASA. Th e president pledged further support of his administration to NIMASA and AAMA in order to reposition the marine economy of the continent. What the DG needs is the support of all NIMASA staff and stakeholders to take the agency to enviable height to help in cushioning the economic crunch in the country. Adanu, media and communication specialist, can be reached on 08036330545 or via email: [email protected]
