The management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and the Nigeria LNG Ltd. (NLNG), have agreed to set up a working Committee meeting regularly to ensure improved liaison between two organizations in the interest of Nigeria.
This agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the Management of the NLNG led by its Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila to NIMASA.
Areas of cooperation will centre on port charges, making Nigerian ports competitive, effective implementation of the Cabotage Law, Stevedoring charges, CoC recognition, and registration of NLNG Vessels on the Nigerian Ship Registry and a host of others.
The Director-General, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, argued that a better working relationship between NIMASA and the NLNG would greatly enhance operations in the maritime sector of the country.
He assured that NIMASA would extend the already existing working relationship it has with the NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) to the parent body, while also urging NLNG to consider the Nigerian Flag as the first option for her vessels.
He said: “This is a new beginning; our focus should be what is best for Nigeria and not just for the NLNG or NIMASA.”
While commending the NLNG for providing platforms to train Nigerian Seafarers, Jamoh said the Agency is committed to attaining best global practice so that certificates issued by Nigeria will be recognized globally.
“We are working to ensure that the Certificates of Competency issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration are of international standard. This he said will make it easy for the NLNG and other international organizations to accept them.”
He noted that the Agency needs the NLNG to boost the nation’s tonnage. “NIMASA needs the NLNG; we desire to have Vessels of the NLNG fly the Nigerian flag, just imagine that Vessels of the NLNG are on the Nigerian Registry, our tonnage will increase exponentially, the Nigerian Flag will earn much more respect globally and we will get better recognition.”
Areas of cooperation will centre on port charges, making Nigerian ports competitive, effective implementation of the Cabotage Law, Stevedoring charges, CoC recognition, and registration of NLNG Vessels on the Nigerian Ship Registry and a host of others.
Human capital development
On his part, Mshelbila said the NLNG is committed to the deliberate indigenization of the human component of its operation, and is ready to partner with NIMASA to enhance safety and security of lives and assets in the Nigerian maritime domain.
He said the NLNG is on the same page with NIMASA in terms of capacity development and the quest to ensure that Nigeria attains internationally acceptable standards in her operations in the maritime sector.
Mshelbila said: “We at NLNG have realized that for us to fulfil one of our key vision elements, which is helping to build a better Nigeria, it is important for us to work with all our stakeholders including NIMASA.
“We are aware that NIMASA and our subsidiary, NMSL are working hand in hand for the progress of this country and we desire that same spirit of partnership and collaboration should be extended to the NLNG.
“I believe that for NLNG to fulfil its mission as a business, it needs to partner with NIMASA. NIMASA is an important stakeholder for us; we don’t just see it as a regulator only. I know we have various training programs working closely with NIMASA, being explored by NMSL to provide sea time training for Seafarers, which has enabled the seafarer to fulfil their qualifications and get certifications.”
He expressed appreciation to NIMASA for the active management of activities in the Gulf of Guinea. “We can certainly testify from the report that we get both locally and from international bodies that there has been a huge success in the war against criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea and we know that the Deep Blue Project is instrumental in attaining this success.”
“Based on the information at our disposal; I don’t think there has been any case of abduction since this year and that’s a testament to the success of Deep Blue Project initiative that NIMASA has driven and this has been in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, Regional and non-regional bodies,” he said.
