Minister seeks deployment of modular floating dock…As NIMASA, NPA close rank to achieve feat

Minister of Transport, Mr. Mu’azu Sambo has charged the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, to ensure prompt deployment of the modular floating dockyard acquired by the agency sometime ago.

Meanwhile, NIMASA and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, are currently closing ranks towards effective deployment of the facility in line with efforts to curtail capital flight and also boost government revenue.

Director General of the agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who disclosed this while speaking with the media in Lagos, said the Minister described the deployment of the modular dockyard as one of the low hanging fruits that could be delivered to the nation within the next few months.

“When we met with the Minister last month, he made it clear that we need to deploy the modular floating dockyard for the benefit of Nigerians. The truth is that we are working round the clock daily to ensure the Dockyard is put to use. We are working closely with the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, using lessons from past mistakes, to ensure a productive and sustainable deployment of the Modular Dockyard.

Dr. Jamoh said both NIMASA and NPA are set to complete the operationalisation of the NIMASA Modular Floating Dockyard with the installation of dolphins and repair of facilities at the NPA Continental Shipyard facility, where the floating dock would be operated from.

He noted that NIMASA has completed the ongoing discussions with its co-partner, NPA and other managing partners to provide the Continental Shipyard for the anchoring of the dockyard. It was further gathered that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC, is closely providing guidance for the deployment of the national asset on a Public -Private Partnership PPP model, as the floating dock needs to go through an installation process before it commences fully operational.