Today marks the second year anniversary of the appointment of Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh as the Director-General (D-G) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by President Muhammadu Buhari.
On March 10, 2020, Jamoh assumed duty and, expectedly, he hit the ground running.
Obviously, Jamoh had no choice than to immediately galvanise the instrumentality of NIMASA Structure to move at a frenetic speed because the time he emerged as NIMASA DG was very challenging.
The outbreak of COVID-19 a few months back totally devastated the world economy and the maritime industry was worst hit.
Vessels could not sail and pirates seized the opportunity to bare their fangs along international waters, disturbing the world economy.
But, Jamoh, being the hardworking public servant he is, seized the bull by the horn by telling his management team that challenges are meant to be faced headlong and solved. Two years down the line, it is praise galore for the Kaduna-born workaholic public servant.
Today, Jamoh, the energetic DG has, according to a popular saying, taken NIMASA to the next level.
The world economy was virtually locked down, but Jamoh, who believes there is always an advantage in a disadvantage, offered the necessary strategic leadership, and Nigeria’s maritime sector is the better for it.
Today, maritime workers and seafarers are happier for this intervention.
Because safety is very close to his heart, Jamoh put in tremendous efforts to mitigate the tide of maritime insecurity in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea through several maritime domain awareness interventions and collaborative efforts.
Due to his prompt intervention in dealing with insecurity through the enactment of favourable policies, most Nigerian Operators in domestic coastal shipping now own vessels, enhancing their competitiveness.
In fact, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Kitack Lim, commended Jamoh for his brave and dynamic approach towards maritime security.
The core of maritime safety and security is the improvement of port and flag state functions and the Jamoh-led management has continued to use this as a Mantra.
To further address maritime insecurity in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, the following was done:
*Passage of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill
*Establishment of integrated national maritime surveillance and security infrastructure
*International Ship and Port Facility Security (Code) Implementation: The implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has steadily impacted on the level of security in the nation’s port areas and facilities.
*Resuscitation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Equipment.
*The Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity (RMAC) Centre.
At the national level, Jamoh has institutionalised collaboration with security agencies, spearheading the institutionalisation of the collaboration between NIMASA and other frontline maritime agencies for improved maritime safety and security and efficient port operations.
Taking a global dimension and in collaboration with international organisations, NIMASA is currently engaging stakeholders, including BIMCO, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Oil Companies International Maritime Forum-OCIMF, under the auspices of NIMASA/Industry Maritime Security Work Group (NIWG) to entrench coordinated response to piracy attacks.
All these efforts prompted the IMO to applaud NIMASA’s efforts in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region . The IMO also gave institutional backing to NIMASA’s Marine Litter Action Plan. These and many more are evident of NIMASA’s collaboration with the IMO.
Talking of maritime safety, the Flag State Implementation (FSO) – Vessels inspected/surveyed in accordance with the safety requirements of the MSA 2007 has greatly improved.
Comparing the number of vessels surveyed for flag registration relative to the previous year, the 2021 figure (489 vessels) is 43.6% higher than the total number of condition surveys carried out in 2020 (276 vessels).
In Port State Control (PCS), 229 foreign vessels boarded to ensure that such vessels maintained safety/pollution standard while in our ports and waters.
Also, activities in Port State Control Implementation have increased. Comparing the number of vessels boarded relative to the previous year, the 2021 figure (673 vessels) is 24.2% higher than the total number of inspections carried out in 2020 (510 vessels).
The Deep Blue Project is very dear to the hearts of President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Jamoh. So, it is not a surprise that on Friday, May 21, 2021, the President flagged it off and Jamoh, through implementation, has really proved that it is not a wasted effort.
Today, NIMASA has taken delivery of key assets of the Deep Blue Project including: two Special Mission Vessels (SMVs), 17 Fast Interceptor Boats (FIBs), two Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) and 16 Armoured Vehicles.
Other achievements are recorded in the total number of currently operational onshore facilities in the ISPS unit which is 98 divided into six maritime zones.
For ease of administration because of their locations and accessibility, some zones are further subdivided.
In 2020, VIEs carried out as detailed below for the four quarters: Lagos subdivisions (Apapa – 9, Kirikiri – 12, Ijora & Ijegun – 8 in first & second quarter & 11 in last quarter, Tincan – 8), Port Harcourt – 11; Calabar – 9; Onne – 9; Eket – 4 and Warri – 16.
In 2021, VIEs carried out as detailed below for the four quarters: Lagos subdivisions (Apapa – 10, Kirikiri – 12, Ijora – 7, Ijegun – 7, Tincan – 8); Port Harcourt – 13; Calabar – 8; Onne – 10; Eket – 3; Warri – 17.
This is an improvement on the previous year, thanks to the Jamoh-led leadership.
The Jamoh management has also achieved some capacity building milestones.
Some of these include: Statutory financial contribution to Maritime Academy, Oron; Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP): 40/60 ratio, 50/50 ratio 100%.
Currently, the Agency has trained over 2600 Nigerian Seafarers in various credible maritime institutions UK, Egypt, Philippine, Malaysia and others.
The Agency also secured the placement of over 400 cadets onboard ships for the mandatory SEA-TIME training to make them globally competitive and employable.
NIMASA also sent some of its staff on long term training abroad to build internal capacities in various aspects of the maritime industry at the prestigious World Maritime University.
Since Jamoh became the D-G, over 2,600 Nigerian Seafarers have been trained in various maritime institutions worldwide and a good number of them who have completed their programmes are now gainfully employed onboard vessels.
Also, achievements in indigenous shipping capacity development include the procurement of the fifth largest modular floating dockyard in Africa to reduce the cost of ship repairs and maintenance
This milestone achievement comes under a unique Fund known as the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), designed to provide financial assistance to Nigerian Operators in domestic coastal shipping to own vessels and enhance their competitiveness.
There is also what is known as Fiscal and Monetary Policy Initiatives in which NIMASA has continued engagement with MDAs to entrench an appropriate fiscal and monetary policy initiatives to pave the way for the competitive participation of indigenous operators in shipping activities in Nigeria.
These include but not limited to:
• A push for the change in terms of trade from FOB to CIF for the affreightment of crude oil (NNPC), Single digit interest rate for the maritime sector (CBN/NEXIMBANK/AFRIEXIM), concessional foreign exchange rate for ship acquisition, engagement with Office of the Vice President/Economic Management Team.
The Jamoh administration is also engaging with state governments to buy into NIMASA’s cargo support initiative aimed at creating cargo pool for affreightment by indigenous operators.
Other achievements include Ship Tonnage Growth: Aggressive repositioning of the Nigerian Ship Registration Office (NSRO)
*The Nigerian Ship Registration Office recorded 13.8% tonnage growth from 2018 to 2019.
*Although this trajectory of growth was negatively impacted by the global Covid-19 pandemic, it has since improved since 2021.
The Executive Management of NIMASA quickly recognized from the outset the significant impact of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic on the Transport Sector in Particular and the Global socio-economic activities in general, hence it set up a multi-disciplinary Committee within the Agency to provide an informed risk assessment with appropriate responses.
A major intervention of the Agency in ensuring the continued flow of trade was the declaration of Seafarers as KEY WORKERS to facilitate vital crew changes and excuse duty. Nigeria was among the first maritime nations to declare such and was commended by the IMO.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support to Federal and State Governments by NIMASA include the following donations:
A. Cash donations of N30 million to the Federal Government Committee on COVID-19 Intervention
N20 million cash donation to the Lagos State COVID-19 Intervention Task Force.
It also provided human capital/personnel support in the following areas:
Medical Personnel, Drivers , Logistic officers and deployment of the Agency’s Fire brigade trucks to fumigate Apapa and its environs.
Also, 36-seater and 16-seater Coaster Buses, Ambulances, fast intervention marine vessels and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) were donated to many states.
Jamoh also ensured that NIMASA’s special team presented relief items to victims of flood disaster across the nation. Internally displaced persons as a result of insurgency were not left out of the Agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Among the states covered are Kaduna, Kano, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Niger, Benue, Ogun, Ondo.
Under Jamoh, in-house training, examination and promotion received a boost.
Online Seafarers Certificate of Competency (CoC) Verification Platform was reactivated and the project has drastically reduced forgery of Nigerian certificates and enhance the employment of Nigerian Seafarers in the global maritime sector.
There is also:
*Enforcement of Safety Regulations on Barges and Tug Boats (Operation Sting Ray)
*ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Certification for the operation of the maritime Safety Department Approval of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System for the Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department by Bureau Veritas (BV) in April 2020.
*Revival of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipment – Necessary for sending alert in an emergency. The GMDSS is to ensure safety of life at sea.
In Marine Environment Management, Nigeria has entered into MoU with Maritime Transport Coordination Centre (MTCC) on Climate Change for Africa to commence activities towards ensuring GHG emission reduction in the maritime sector with emphasis on achieving 0.5% Sulphur Oxide (SO2) in Bunker fuel oil.
In Kitack Lim’s observations, Jamoh’s ‘brave and dynamic approach towards maritime security’ should be commended by all.
To mark the second anniversary of the appointment of Jamoh as NIMASA D-G, this commendation is receiving a boisterous applause.
