…Reiterates commitment to development of Blue Economy***

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside has tasked media practitioners on the Importance of investigative journalism, noting that it holds the key towards achieving and sustaining desired industry discipline and capacity development. 

Dr. Dakuku indicated this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos at the weekend, pointing out that the maritime industry needs to build on knowledge adequacy, anchored to informed, fair and professional reportage. 

He therefore charged the media to embrace investigative journalism in all ramifications, as it will genuinely benefit the maritime industry and the nation at large.

The DG who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh assured that the NIMASA will continue to partner the media in various ways, especially in capacity building, because they remain the credible fulcrum through which the activities of the Agency can be made public, so as to attract more sectoral participation.

“On our part as an Agency, we give priority to capacity building as it remains the only way the industry can grow and the Media are not left out of this. We are what we project to our stakeholders, both local and international; hence the need for the media to embrace investigative journalism to make their reportage factual and balanced”, he said. 

Speaking further, he stated that the Agency remains committed to the ideals of actualising the Blue Economy, which deals with the totality of all economic activity associated with the oceans, seas, harbours and coastal zones. The concept also includes; aquaculture, biomedicine, boats and shipbuilding, ship repairs, defense and security, amongst others all geared towards wealth and job creation for the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.

 He also highlighted other steps the Agency is taking to ensure a robust maritime sector to include the drafting of a dedicated anti-piracy bill, which is before the National Assembly, to provide the requisite framework for the fight, prosecution and punishment of piracy and other related crimes in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, expected to be passed to law soon. Also, the Agency has the approval for the acquisition of intelligence gathering maritime domain awareness assets and military response assets to fight pirates and make Nigeria’s maritime domain safe for economic activities.

Also speaking during the event, the President of the Shipping Correspondent of Nigeria (SCAN), Mr. Yusuf Babalola commended the Management of NIMASA for its strides in transforming the maritime sector, through various Stakeholder oriented policies.