Enhancing NIMASA’s Contributions to Marine and Blue Economy Sector’s Success

 

By Shola Fadeyi

Undoubtedly, the forward looking measures which the Dr Dayo Mobereola- led management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency(NIMASA), has adopted since it got into the saddle about one and a half years ago , have lent credence to the consensus in the Maritime Sector, that it has made some positive impact on the economy since it got into the saddle.

The  management has succeeded in boosting NIMASA’s global  profile among maritime nations, facilitated Nigeria’s signing of International Maritime Organization (IMO) instruments of accession, strengthened   Maritime Safety by  synergizing with security agencies, like the NDLEA, to combat illicit activities in Nigerian waters, and collaborated    with  the Nigerian Armed forces through the Deep Blue Project.

As the Director General of NIMASA,  he has  promoted local shipping by adding impetus to  cabotage enforcement and local content compliance, supporting capacity building, through  its commitment to developing the skills and expertise of Nigerian seafarers and industry professionals and through its  streamlining  the process for indigenous ship-owners, to access and disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF).

Mobereola’s management has also promoted Inclusivity within NIMASA, working to ensure that the agency  reflects the diversity of the maritime industry and the country as a whole, recognizing and applauding  Women’s Contribution   in the sector as well as promoting the success of the Marine and Blue Economy sector.

It was thus in recognition of NIMASA’s commitment to enhancing service standards, improving transparency, and ensuring efficiency in its operations,  facilitating  maritime safety, regulation, and the promotion of Nigeria’s maritime sector, that NIMASA recently received the SERVICOM Award for excellent service delivery, usually given to government agencies that have excelled in these areas.

A feat that   is very commendable for Mobereola- led  management is that within the short period of his tenure, he is already set  to break a 27 – year jinx   by securing approval from President Tinubu,  with the support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy  to disburse ,very soon, the over $ 700 million Cabotage Vessel Finance  Fund (CVFF) , for indigenous shipping companies to acquire vessels .

This disbursement, which he has ensured would be  at a single digit interest rate , to make it easy for beneficiaries  to pay back, will  empower indigenous ship owners to compete favourably, boost local content in the maritime sector, create employment opportunities for Nigerian seafarers, and strengthen ancillary maritime services.

He has also increased the number of Primary Lending Institutions(PLIs),and introduced transparency to the scheme.

Also, to ensure that the indigenous shipping companies benefit from the provisions of the Inland and Coastal shipping Act , otherwise known as  Cabotage Act of 2003 , which allows them to   operate their vessels on the Nigerian coastal waters , he has continued to work to ensure that the  Bill for the review of the Act, which has been in the National Assembly is passed into law   for the shipping companies to benefit maximally .

It was even more gratifying that  Mobereola with the approval of the  Minister of Marine and Blue Economy has resolved to end the execution of the  waiver  clause , enshrined in the Cabotage  Act,  through which foreign vessels take up the contracts that ought to have been executed by the local shipping companies , due to the need for the local carriers  to be able to function actively in coastal shipping.

To boost the capacity of indigenous carriers , the Agency is also implementing a Public Sector Cargo Support Programme, aimed at creating a captive freight market for local carriers and reducing the dominance of foreign shipping lines in Nigeria’s seaborne trade.

His management has likewise continued to keep alive the  federal government’s plan to launch a national shipping carrier through a public-private partnership (PPP), aimed at boosting Nigeria’s influence in the regional maritime sector.

As the head of NIMASA, the Administrator of the Maritime sector, he has persistently promoted the Marine and Blue Economy potentials , called on private individuals and corporate investors to seize emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s Blue Economy, particularly in the maritime  and inviting them to  partner with NIMASA to  develop a robust and competitive maritime sector that will create jobs and boost the national economy.

As part of measures to grow the new Marine and Blue economy sector, it  is also to Mobereola’s credit  that the Federal Executive Council  (FEC) through Minister Oyetola  was able to approve a  National Marine and Blue Economy Policy ,  as a visionary framework for national development, which is being implemented.

  Mobereola’s management has ensured that maritime security is significantly enhanced with   the  full deployment of the Deep Blue project  assets  within the Nigerian Continental Shelf , having  reviewed the Deep Blue Project  agreement with the Nigerian Navy, reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to sustain the scheme , and emphasize  its importance in suppressing maritime security challenges in Nigeria.

The Deep Blue Project comprises air , sea and land   sophisticated assets, which  were procured  by the Federal Government , while NIMASA DG has  had been able to  boost the impact of the project  on the nation’s maritime security architecture, having expanded the scope of the scheme  to  cover Nigeria’s maritime territory, including the newly declared maritime boundary

Under  Mobereola as DG, the Deep Blue Project coupled with the ongoing implementation of the anti- piracy law   has   continued to contribute immensely to the significant reduction in piracy and other maritime crimes, thus enhancing safety and security on Nigerian waters.

Little wonder that  the Mobereola- led management   has been able to sustain  the  achievement of zero piracy incidence on Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea ,  since the past three  years, with the combined efforts of all key players.

For the fact that he has also continued to prioritized security and safety,  he has made NIMASA to achieve considerable progress of almost about 100 per cent compliance  in the implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code .

This fact was attested by the representative of the US Coast Guard, Joe Prince Larson of the US Coast Guard who led a team from the International Port Security Programme on a Working Tour of some Terminals and Ports in Nigeria recently,  to ascertain the level of implementation of the ISPS Code across Nigerian ports facilities.

Larson had noted that Nigeria’s compliance with the ISPS Code ranks amongst the best globally,  adding  that his team would report their findings to the leadership of the US Coast Guard  and expressing  confidence that NIMASA, under Mobereola , had the capacity to maintain the high standards attained to date.

In making Nigeria  to abide with global bodies labour laws, increase the country’s  pace of engaging  strategically with relevant international agencies and as part of the protection of the rights and  interest of Seafarers’ , NIMASA’s interface with  the Marine and Blue Economy Minister   made it possible for him,   in Geneva, Switzerland, to  sign  treaties  recently for the endorsement of Nigeria  to amend  eight  Codes of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006.

The amendments include the codes related to the protection of seafarers against discrimination, identification of seafarers as key workers, enhanced access to shore based welfare for seafarers, and the code on shipboard violence, harassment and bullying, accommodation and recreational facilities on board .

The fact that Mobereola used the platform in Geneva to reinforce Nigeria’s bid for election to Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, during the upcoming elections scheduled for November/ December 2025, while he has been involved in such lobbying in several other fora outside Nigeria ,  since assuming office, is an indication of   the extent to which he has ensured that Nigeria  is victorious in the election, this time.

Nigeria’s inclusion in the Council would strengthen Africa’s representation and voice in shaping international maritime policies that promote fair labour practices, environmental sustainability, and technical cooperation.

He has also been working with the Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association to review waiver clauses and ensure more opportunities for Nigerian seafarers.

In the area of Staff Welfare, Dr. Mobereola has implemented a merit-based promotion system, addressing previously stalled promotions and simplifying the agency’s hierarchy , while it has prioritized capacity building for all categories of the workers.

Additionally, the Nigeria’s Ship Registry is to be automated this year by NIMASA, for purpose of efficiency, as part of the Ease of Doing Business policy of the Federal Government and to make the Nigerian  Ship Registration process to be in line with those of other foreign maritime  nations, such as Panama, Phillipines , Greece and  US among others.

The registration automation process will also establish two types of Ship Registry, a Close and an Open Ship Registry. The NIMASA DG’s plan with  the automation is that ,  shipping companies which desire to  register their ships in Nigeria will no longer visit NIMASA ‘s office but will just send their  documents to the agency, online real time, and in 30 to 45 minutes ,  their request would receive attention,  they will be  issued certificate.

He has  also made seafarers’ welfare and the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP)   to create a more equitable and sustainable maritime industry.

Apart from enhancing the NSDP , meant to produce skilled cadets  for Nigeria,  through training them in foreign universities in the UK , the Philippines and other countries in various maritime Engineering courses, he  has likewise initiated a programme to replace foreign seafarers with Nigerians in certain positions, such as Ratings and Officer of the Watch.

Thus considering its achievements so far within a relatively short period of time in office , it is expected that   the Mobereola – led management would make NIMASA to impact more positively on the maritime sector and the economy in the years ahead.

Shola Fadeyi is the Managing Director, Simofad Communications Ltd., and Publishers Marine and Economy Magazine and Marine and Economy Online.