The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has restated its commitment to taking deliberate steps to work with critical institutions and professional bodies to improve the contributions of the maritime industry’s sector to Nigeria’s development.
The Director-General of the agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, gave this assurance when a branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) paid a courtesy visit to his office on Friday in Lagos
He explained that working with the association and the judiciary was important to the agency, given the complex and time-sensitive nature of maritime legal issues and the attendant requirement for prompt resolutions.
The Director General said: “Prompt dispensation of Justice is important for achieving success in our drive to elicit a sustained investors’ confidence, and the judiciary is a critical factor in this drive. When there is a delay in a case, investment opportunities are lost.
“Let me therefore use this opportunity to solicit the cooperation of the NBA to always push for timely dispute resolution for maritime related issues, as we all have one role or another to play in catalysing the Nigerian economy,” Jamoh added.
The NIMASA boss also pointed out that the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Crimes (SPOMO) Act 2019 had come to stay, describing the enactment of the Act as a victory for Nigeria in view of the nation’s determination to assume her rightful position in the comity of maritime nations.
Jamoh told the NBA team that through the enforcement of the Act some convictions had been secured to date, describing the development as a proof that Nigeria is on the right path in the war against piracy and other crimes on the nation’s waterways.
He assured: “We will not relent on our efforts to ensure a safe and secure maritime domain in line with our mandate. NIMASA will continue to work closely with other organs of government, the international community, and other stakeholders to achieve improved security in the Nigerian waterways and the Gulf of Guinea.
“With the SPOMO Act, we have secured 23 convictions, out of which 10 were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, 10 seven years, while three foreigners were fined for their involvement in crime within the Nigerian territorial waters.
“This will serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements who are still engaged in the nefarious activities on our waterways,” he added
Despite the modest achievements by the agency in the area of safety and security of the Nigerian maritime space, the Director General said that the management of the agency appreciates the need for continuous training of its workforce and continued collaboration with all stakeholders, including the judiciary.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the NBA branch in the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Adjeh Monday, commended the Jamoh-led management of the agency for its achievements and stressed the need for its continuous collaboration with relevant stakeholders to growth of the maritime industry.
The legal expert assured the association’s value-adding models of collaboration with the agency to avail it necessary assistance in its sustained drive to ensure a safe and secure maritime space for the country.
