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Nigerian needs maritime data bank for economic growth – DG NIMASA

…Says
Maritime Sector contribution to GDP deserves recognition
Director General, Nigerian Maritime
Administration & Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside flanked
by Director, Maritime Labour Services, NIMASA Mr. Ibrahim Jibril (left) and the
Head, Corporate Communication, NIMASA, (right) Mr. Isichei Osamgbi during an
interactive session with the media, held in Lagos.

The Director
General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr.
Dakuku Peterside has stated that the Agency is pushing for a single data window
system of all activities in the Nigerian maritime sector in such a way that
data required will be available on a single platform, as a maritime data bank
to help engender the nation’s rapid economic growth.

The DG who
stated this in Lagos on Thursday at an interactive session with the media, also noted
that the Nigerian maritime sector which currently provides over 100,000 direct
jobs with multiplier effects of over two million jobs, deserved adequate
mention in the statistics released monthly by the National Bureau of Statistics
(NBS).
“We are pushing for a single data window
system in the maritime sector, whereby NIMASA, the Nigerian Ports Authority
(NPA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and
other relevant government agencies in the sector will share a common platform
for data on all vessels calling at our ports and the activities. This will make
it easy for the National Bureau of Statistics to capture the contributions of
the maritime sector and the GDP of the country to enable those who make use of
the figures to grow the economy achieve better results,” 
he said.
Speaking on
the survey and inspection of vessels calling at Nigerian ports, he said that
the fast intervention vessels the agency leased last year have led to an
increase in Port, Flag and Coastal State control inspections, which he noted
has increased by over 10.3, 33.3 and 27 per cent respectively in 2018 than the
same period in the previous year.  This is just as the Agency has
taken drastic action to ensure that substandard vessels do not ply and endanger
our waters.
“Nigeria is no longer conducive for
substandard vessels, because they know that we are more vigilant and by this we
are ensuring the protection of our environment. We are strict on enforcement of
standards and the international fleet feels more comfortable with our maritime
terrain”,
 the DG
said.  
Commenting on
the issue of placing beneficiaries of the Agency’s Nigerian Seafarers
Development Programme (NSDP) onboard ocean going vessels for their mandatory
sea-time training, he disclosed that currently a total number of 289 cadets
have commenced their training in Egypt and the United Kingdom on NIMASA full
sponsorship. He also used the opportunity to assure all beneficiaries of the
scheme that the Agency will ensure they all complete their mandatory sea-time
training in due course.
He pointed
out further that the Agency is working with the IMO as technical partners to
improve the quality of graduates from the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN)
Oron; this is to ensure that graduates from MAN, Oron and other maritime
institutions are employable.
Dr. Peterside also said that the Agency is working with a shipping firm in the United Arab
Emirates UAE to give 100 Nigerian Seafarers sea time training spread over 10
years.
In the area
of security on the nation’s territorial waters, the NIMASA DG said that the
Agency is addressing it through the NIMASA total spectrum maritime security
strategy, which includes investment on intelligence and partnership with the
Nigerian Navy, building of Nigeria’s  response capabilities with the
use of Fast Intervention Vessels and the review of our laws, especially the
anti-piracy bill which will give the Agency the legal backing to prosecute
issues relating to piracy on our waters.   
He also
hinted that the Agency has been able to plug all loopholes through the
automation of its processes, as there is no more room for human interface,
thereby curbing any form of corrupt practices. This, he said has also assisted
the Agency to contribute substantially to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)
of the Federal Government.  
While noting
that ratings on transparency and accountability by the Presidential Enabling
Business Environment Council (PEBEC), shows NIMASA has improved tremendously,
Dr Dakuku  said that the target is to be amongst the first three
government agencies in the next rating.
Also speaking
on the recently reviewed 2018-2019 maritime forecast, Dr. Peterside noted that the
projected 1.8 to 2.5 per cent growth in the sector could only take place when all
avenues or windows are explored to grow the industry.  

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