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Creating awareness among stakeholders
and fostering partnerships for implementation and enforcement of legal
provisions are some of the best approaches the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has adopted for effective ballast water management.
and fostering partnerships for implementation and enforcement of legal
provisions are some of the best approaches the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has adopted for effective ballast water management.
Speaking on the sidelines of a
just-concluded regional and national workshop held in Lagos, the Director,
Marine Environment Protection at NIMASA, Dr. Felicia Mogo, said the Agency was
in partnership with sister agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for
provision of reception facility for ballast water.
Dr. Mogo also disclosed that a
national task-force for proper coordination of the activities for monitoring and
ensuring compliance was set up with members drawn from across board of key
stakeholders.
national task-force for proper coordination of the activities for monitoring and
ensuring compliance was set up with members drawn from across board of key
stakeholders.
She said: “The first thing NIMASA did
was to ratify the convention. After ratification, we now put in place a
national taskforce on ballast water management in Nigeria. That national
task-force has all stakeholders like ministry, department and agencies and major
operator of vessels as members.
was to ratify the convention. After ratification, we now put in place a
national taskforce on ballast water management in Nigeria. That national
task-force has all stakeholders like ministry, department and agencies and major
operator of vessels as members.
“It also has a scientific group that
is to be carrying out researches and updating the larger group on next steps.
We have been able to carry out two training on the biological invasive species
in ballast water, and general awareness creation.”
is to be carrying out researches and updating the larger group on next steps.
We have been able to carry out two training on the biological invasive species
in ballast water, and general awareness creation.”
She also said that measures were put
in place for adequate monitoring of cabotage vessels in order to detect those
operating outside that may want to pose as those operating only within.
in place for adequate monitoring of cabotage vessels in order to detect those
operating outside that may want to pose as those operating only within.
Mogo added that: “We have recently
carried out feasibility studies to determine where we can have the kind of
recognised exchange zone in Lagos area.
carried out feasibility studies to determine where we can have the kind of
recognised exchange zone in Lagos area.
“We are also going to carry that out
in our maritime zones; we have our Western Zone, Central Zone and Eastern Zone.
Apart from that, we have developed a tech system of a sort, like a mini
laboratory to be used in testing samples when it becomes necessary.”
in our maritime zones; we have our Western Zone, Central Zone and Eastern Zone.
Apart from that, we have developed a tech system of a sort, like a mini
laboratory to be used in testing samples when it becomes necessary.”
NIMASA has also taken the initiative
to creating awareness among coastal communities on the dangers of indiscriminate
waste disposal that litters the marine environment.
to creating awareness among coastal communities on the dangers of indiscriminate
waste disposal that litters the marine environment.
