Dr. Peterside, who also insisted that ensuring a good security in the maritime industry requires careful planning and stringent implementation, said that the Agency is very committed to improving the fortunes of Nigeria by creating an enabling environment for a business friendly and secured environment for Stakeholders in the industry and the country at large.
The NIMASA boss, who spoke at the closing ceremony of a of a five-day training programme tagged “train the trainer” said that the need for a business-friendly environment necessitated the conduct of train the trainer initiative. The programme was facilitated by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in conjunction with NIMASA on ISPS code compliance in Lagos.
Dr. Peterside acknowledged the International Co-operation Unit of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), even as he said that the training was predicated on the premise that a fact finding team was in Nigerian earlier in the year to conduct a needs assessment where a number of gaps were identified.
This according to the Director General, necessitated the training, with a view to addressing some of the gaps identified.
“I guess that in the course of this exercise, we have learned that good security requires planning and stringent implementation. I know that in the course of this training, the seed of co-operation and collaboration between NIMASA as Designated Authority (DA) for ISPS Code Implementation in Nigeria, our sister government Agencies such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and the Federal Ministry of Transportation has been planted. My expectation and desire of the leadership of these Agencies is that it will grow and blossom. In a tripartite series of planned training programmes is expected to culminate with the lead auditors training, which will place you the drivers of the system at the cutting edge of professionalism in ISPS code implementation.”
While also thanking the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi for his support and commitment to the imperatives of NIMASA’s DA status and all matters pertaining to the maritime industry in Nigeria, he charged the participants to bring to bear the knowledge acquired during the five days training programme which he said would enhance the security at the nation’s ports.
Meanwhile, NIMASA Executive Directors who were recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari have assumed duty.
They are Bashir Yusuf Jamoh who is the Executive Director Finance and Administration; Joseph Oluwarotimi Fashakin as the Executive Director Maritime Safety and Shipping Development and Gambo Ahmed as the Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services.
The Executive Director Finance and Administration, Jamoh was until this appointment the Assistant Director in NIMASA in charge of Training and Development and has over 25 years of public service experience. He had served in the Kaduna State Government before transferring his services to the then National Maritime Authority (NMA) in 1994.
Joseph Oluwarotimi Fashakin, the Executive Director in charge of Maritime Safety and Shipping Development is a consummate Engineering and Project Management Professional having graduated from the University of Ife with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and the Project Management Institute, USA.
Fashakin’s working experience spans nearly three decades mostly in the private sector. He was at various times Project Manager, MTN Nigeria, Chief Operating Officer – Hybrid Systems Engineering Ltd, Technical Manager – Mobile Telecommunication Services amongst other engagements.
Gambo Ahmed, the Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services holds a Bachelor’s degree in (Business Administration) Actuarial Science from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and a Masters in Banking & Finance from the Bayero University Kano.
Mr. Ahmed who has had a successful career in the private and public service started out as an Investment Banker with NAL Merchant Bank Limited before proceeding to become first, the Principal Secretary to the Kaduna State Deputy Governor, and later the Principal Private Secretary to the Kaduna State Governor from 1980. [myad]
