… As Jamoh Confirms ICRC final approval***
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh has debunked the notion of delays in the operation of its modular floating dock and stressed that the vision, for a functional dry docking regime, based on Public, Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, is solidly on course.
Dr. Jamoh disclosed this in his office in Lagos on Thursday, while briefing newsmen, on the extensive efforts already made, to ensure an encompassing success, when its modular floating dock, goes into operations, soon.
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The NIMASA Boss gave an illuminating picture of what Nigerians should also expect, as the agency would not be incarcerated by the challenges, which brought the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA now- defunct, floating dock to its knees.
“From the time I assumed office till date, we have been working on the floating dock, that’s what you don’t know”, he told the Maritime First, highlighting a major difference between acquiring a motor from a showroom and procuring a ship from a shipyard.
“From the day that I took over till now, the floating dock has been on Course.
If you go there now, you will find people working on it.
“The floating dock has been built, and there must be an installation… So after the floating dock was built and brought here, there ought to be an installation.
That installation part will soon be done.
“So, it’s not that we are sleeping or not doing anything; for while you think we are holding on, we are actually doing so many things, simultaneously.
“Recently, I gave an example of what a floating dock is all about.
I have distinguished a floating dock from a car.
A car is that which you can enter a showroom, pay the money, take the key, start the car, drive the car and go your way, to anywhere, to Abuja or Maiduguri; but the operating ship is not like that; for there are processes and procedures.
“It is just like an Air Conditioner: if you procure an AC, you have to install the AC too.
First, you get the space for installation, then the pipe, the cable, the electricity, and finally the socket.
“If there is no socket, there is no way the AC will work.
So also, if there is no power supply, the AC won’t work. So, if you go to the floating dock, there are cranes, and if the cranes are not working, you cannot work the floating dock; so also, without the engine and the generators, it won’t equally work”, he stated, explaining that the agency had invited Damen, the manufacturer of the floating dock and concerted efforts were already taken, to ensure a successful installation, preparatory to functional operations.
“As I’m talking to you now, the docking system we are going to put in place will benefit the whole of Nigeria”, Dr. Jamoh said, and explained why some equipment that is presently not in Nigeria, must be brought in, from the Netherlands, even though, on a temporary basis.
Taking a hard look into the immediate past, he recalled how the once vibrant NPA floating dock dream was killed; and emphasized that he was using that experience as an impetus, to ensure the enduring success of the present vision.
Jamoh observed that three or four years ago, the NPA had to remove it’s own non-functioning floating dock from the Continental Shipyard, Apapa and grieved that it could no longer perform its national assignment.
“We came, we saw the NPA floating dock working; everybody would recall that the modular floating dock was there, with the dolphins standing. But today, it is no more.
“Who did this? It is mismanagement of government resources! So, we have said no, this must not happen to our own.
“So, we came here, had meetings with (former NPA Managing Director, Bala Usman) Hadiza and we debated whether the management that managed her floating dock can manage ours.
But, I told her in black and white, that they killed her own (dream), and they can’t kill mine.
We learned from that particular concept.
“We have decided to put up a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
We would get an emerging partner who has the experience, and the technical know-how, to bring customers; because it is one thing to have a floating dock, it is another to enjoy the confidence of the people who are to bring their ships.
If you are not comfortable with a mechanic, you can’t carry your car to the mechanic.
“So what we have is a floating dock that can repair ships.
But, we also know that If you don’t have the integrity and technical know-how, and the operators know, then, nobody will carry his ship there”, Jamoh indicated, pointing out that the Agency, therefore, went to the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
“So we have to go to ICRC, while we are trying to start the floating dock; to satisfy the procurement process”, which has now, after comprehensive scrutiny, examined it’s workability, particularly to know if it is bankable and profitable, has now given its final approval; that the agency should go ahead!
