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By Moses Ebosele –
Experts and stakeholders in the maritime sector have commended the leadership initiatives of Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside.
Speaking at a ceremony hosted by NIMASA to mark the ‘African Day of the Seas and Oceans’, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Rufai Sani observed that since taking over as the Director General, Dr. Peterside has initiated strategies aimed at making the Agency more effective and efficient in the discharge of its mandate.
Represented by Senator Solomon Adeola, Senator Sani who noted that oceans are a critical part of the biosphere that must be conserved for the future also said that the Committee was prepared to support the administration of Dr. Peterside within the ambit of its legislative powers to further impact positively on the Nigerian maritime industry.
In a statement issued by NIMASA, he was quoted as saying “What NIMASA is doing under the leadership of Dr. Peterside is commendable and as a Committee, we will give NIMASA the necessary legislative backing in terms of amendments to the existing laws and enhanced appropriation that is necessary for the Agency to effectively carry out its regulatory activities”.
Speaking in a similar vein, the Chairman of the occasion, Emeritus Professor Dagogo Fubara who highlighted the challenges faced by oceans in Africa to include indiscriminate dumping, unregulated fishing, lack of adequate knowledge of the seas including inadequate hydrographic information also commended the Agency for drawing attention to the need to conserve and preserve the oceans.
The first professor of Geodesy in Africa according to the statement, commended Dr. Peterside for his leadership in the Agency which he said will galvanize the maritime industry to greatness.
Earlier in his keynote address, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure the exploration of resources in the marine environment in a sustainable manner.
Represented by the Director of Maritime Safety and Security in the Ministry, Mr. Danjuma Dauda, the Minister told the audience that it was the desire of the government to ensure cleaner oceans and to eliminate sea piracy and armed robbery within Nigeria’s maritime space.
Welcoming guests to the event, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside explained that Oceans and Seas are essential to the sustainable development of Nigeria and indeed the African continent.
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