From left: Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu Eshinlokun, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR; a member committee, Senator Mpigi Barinda and Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Sunday Karimi during an oversight visit by the committee to NIMASA in Lagos.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA Act Amendment Bill, which seeks to amend the agency’s Establishment Act has scaled the first reading stage at the upper legislative chamber, the Senate.

The NIMASA Act, which was enacted in 2007, merged the defunct National Maritime Authority NMA, and the Joint Maritime Labour Industrial Council JOMALIC, to give birth to NIMASA as the country’s Maritime Administration and incorporated functions under the Merchant Shipping Act and the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003, among others.

Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Wasiu, who announced this during a working visit by the committee to NIMASA operational offices in Lagos, noted that the senate of the tenth assembly is committed to formulating policies that will ensure the country optimises the blue economy potential. Eshinlokun

“A constructive evaluation of the existing maritime legal framework was necessary to ascertain gaps for possible reviews. So the Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio is committed to supporting the maritime sector, in line with the vision of the President Bola Tinubu.

“Let me therefore inform you that the bill seeking amendment of the NIMASA Act has passed first reading on the floor of the Senate.

“I have to say on behalf of my colleagues that we are with you on this journey, and we will not hesitate to support your vision, in as much as such is geared towards enhancing the potential of the maritime sector for national growth and development.

With the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by Mr. President, a message has been passed to all stakeholders that the maritime industry has a huge role to play in our nation building. We must align with the vision of the President, and we must support the government to achieve a better country for all Nigerians”, the chairman said.

The committee members unanimously acknowledged NIMASA’s investment in acquisition and building of a strong safety and security architecture, reiterating that such effort was a confirmation that NIMASA was conscious of its mandate and strategic status as one of Nigeria’s major contributors to the country’s sustainable development.

A member of the Committee, Senator Abdul Ningi, commended NIMASA management, stating that much progress has been made over the years. He admitted that he had visited the agency over the years, and must note that much progress has been made over the years and commended the management for doing so well.

Meanwhile, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR, in his welcome remarks, noted that the agency was committed to both human capacity and infrastructural development to grow the blue economy.

Jamoh stated that a well-developed marine and blue economy would be strong enough to service Nigeria’s annual budget because it encompasses all economic activities associated with the oceans and seas.

“NIMASA is working tirelessly to secure our waters and by extension, the Gulf of Guinea. The time has come for us as a nation to build on the recent gains in the area of safety and security of our waterways. Be rest assured that NIMASA is utilising appropriated funds judiciously, which is evident in our investment in infrastructure. We will continue in the direction President Tinubu has pointed with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.