Boat mishaps: NIMASA, NIWA collaborate on maritime safety enhancement
…Mulls withdrawal of 300 NSDP Cadets from Centurion University, India
By Seun Ibiyemi
In a significant move to boost maritime safety, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced a collaborative effort with the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to develop comprehensive safety strategies.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola emphasised the importance of this partnership during an interactive session with maritime media professionals in Lagos, highlighting the agency’s commitment to reducing incidents of vessel capsizing and ensuring the safety of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
This is even as he hinted that the agency, through the ongoing review of the NIMASA Act of 2007, would commence registration of small boats and their pilots.
“We are collaborating with our sister agency, NIWA, to come up with strategies to ensure safety both in deep waters and in the areas NIWA controls,” the NIMASA DG stated
He emphasised that the core mandate of NIMASA is safety, and this collaboration is crucial in achieving that goal. “Safety is one of our core mandates, and I will be judged on it,” he added, stressing the seriousness of the agency’s mission.
“The NIMASA Act of 2007 is being reviewed. In the current NIMASA bill, we have included all of the infrastructures that are operating on the blue water and to some extent in the backwaters as well.
“NIMASA will regulate not only larger vessels but also small vessels and boats operating in our waters.
“A mistake of the past was overlooking the fact that the dangers and menaces in the maritime space are not primarily caused by the bigger vessels. Instead, it is the small boats that people use for piracy, sea robberies, and other illegal activities.
“In the new bill, we aim to ensure that every boat in our waters is regulated, registered, and we know who is piloting it, where they are going, and where they are coming from.
This regulation will be embedded in the new bill to strengthen maritime safety and security” Dr Mobereola stated
Addressing concerns raised about the quality of education and training the cadets are receiving at Centurion University, the DG emphasised the agency’s commitment to ensuring that the cadets return to Nigeria as well-prepared and employable graduates.
“We have not decided to bring those students back home. What we are doing is reviewing how the school has been engaged. Is it in the students’ best interest? Will they be well-prepared graduates who are employable by the industry?” the DG stated.
The DG underscored the agency’s dedication to the cadets’ futures, noting that the issue is a top priority. “These are the issues on our table right now, and we deliberate on them daily. I assure you that when we develop the best approach, it will be clear that we are acting in the cadets’ best interest, not our own,” he added.
He further explained that the goal is for these “young, vibrant, intelligent students” to return and contribute to the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector. “We want to ensure that the platform for them is right, and that is what we are working towards. When we present our plan, you will recognize that it is in the best interest of both the nation and the students,” he assured.
