Peterside assures maritime stakeholders of improved services in 2017

The Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has noted that the Agency will re-dedicate itself to the execution of its core functions in the year 2017.
The D-G, who said this in his new year message to maritime stakeholders, noted that while 2016 was a challenging year as a result of the economic recession, year 2017 promises to be a year of economic recovery not just for the maritime sector but the nation at large.
He noted that the Federal Government was committed to reflating the economy in order to engender an early recovery from the current recession saying that the new year will signify a turning point in the fortunes of operators of the Nigerian Maritime industry.
Peterside, who decried the harsh operating environment in Nigeria’s maritime industry, said that the Agency is committed to the full enforcement of its mandate.
According to him, “we are focused on the full implementation of our mandate in the new year. We have concluded the restructuring, repositioning and reformation of NIMASA which would take effect in the first quarter of 2017 with the aim of making Nigeria a hub of maritime activities in West and Central Africa.
“Our commitment is to make sure that indigenous operators maximise their potentials in our maritime industry whilst creating wealth and job opportunities for our teeming youths”.
Peterside further stated that the Agency will fully implement it’s five pillar programme of maritime safety, security, search and rescue transformation; marine environment preservation; digital transformation initiative; capacity building initiatives; and cultural and attitudinal transformation.
According to the D-G, the Agency is poised to activate all these initiatives with a view to harnessing the vast opportunities inherent in the sector and generating revenue for the government for developmental programmes.