After failing under Jonathan, NIMASA gets Buhari’s nod to host global maritime conference

President Muhammadu Buhari has given the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) the approval to host the third conference of the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA).

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday, Dakuku Peterside, the director general of NIMASA, said Nigeria was designated to host the conference in 2014, under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan, but failed to.

He added that the move to work with International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the conference will help Nigeria reposition itself in the comity of nations.

“This is in line with IMO policy in assisting and enhancing the capacity of Maritime Administrations in Africa in the adherence and implementation of IMO instruments,” Dakuku said.

“Against the backdrop of the key resolutions and decision of the 2nd Heads of African Maritime Administration Conference held in Sandton, South Africa in October 2013, was the convening of a 3rd AAMA Conference in 2014.

“The designated host, Nigeria, at the time, was unable to host the 3rd conference in 2014. We reactivated the hosting rights and 19th to 21st of April 2017 was set as the date for the 3rd conference scheduled to hold at the Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja, Nigeria.”

He said the crucial third AAMA conference is set to draw a roadmap for the future sustainable work plans of the Association.

The theme of the Conference is: “Sustainable Use of Africa’s Oceans and Seas.”

“The theme is against the backdrop of the African Union’s declaration of the year 2015-2025 as the Decade of African Seas and Oceans.  We view hosting AAMA as part of our drive to reposition the Nigerian Maritime Sector, thereby making Nigeria a force to be reckoned with again, globally.”

“Aside of the immediate benefits of having Maritime Administrations in Africa converge in Nigeria, the multiplier effect will go a long way to enhance the chances of Nigeria’s to return to Council at IMO at the Category C level. NIMASA’s Management has received the presidential approval to seek election in to the category C of the IMO council.”

NIMASA PARTNERS EGYPT, NEWCASTLE ON SEAFEARERS

NIMASA, under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) is partnering with schools in Newcastle, Egypt and Philippines on training seafearers.

“So far, 1,045 beneficiaries have graduated from the project, representing 42% graduates of the over 2500 NIMASA sponsored beneficiaries,” Dakuku added.

“A breakdown shows that 226 graduated from the Arab Academy in Egypt, 76 from South Tyneside, Newcastle in England while 743 graduated from various partner Universities in The Philippines.

He concluded that his administration is “rebranding the Agency in order to align it with other foremost Maritime administrations in the world”.

“The new NIMASA brand would be unveiled by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 20^th of April which coincides with the hosting of AAMA. It’s part of our concept to inject a new dose of energy into the NIMASA brand.”