NIMASA to Strictly Enforce Safety Regulations, Dakuku Warns

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has warned that the Agency will soon begin the strict enforcement of safety regulations at sea, stressing that this was the only way to ensure optimal protection of Marine Environment.

The DG indicated this in Lagos during the opening ceremony of the ongoing 4th Regional Technical Search and Rescue Committee meeting, noting as a major accomplishment, the establishment of an Emergency Service Division, entrusted with the responsibility of rendering Search and Rescue Services to vessels and mariners in distress within the Nigerian territorial waters.

The Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Ahmed Gambo who Represented the Director General of NIMASA, the Regional Coordinator, West and Central Africa-Anglophone, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO, Capt. Dallas Laryea who represented the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Mr. Kitack Lim, with other participants at the 4th Regional Technical Search and Rescue Committee meeting holding in Lagos

Emphasizing on safety of assets, Dr. Peterside who was represented at the event by the Agency’s Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Gambo Ahmed stated that the Agency as the regional coordinator of search and rescue for West and Central Africa remains committed to leading the region in that light, stressing that aside continuous trainings of SAR officials, NIMASA is also coming up with other modalities to complement its SAR plan.

“Seafarers worldwide have the obligation to assist other ships in distress and as part of our commitment to SAR we have registered and trained volunteers as Maritime SAR Marshals in the riverine and inland areas.

L-R, Engr. Umotong Ekong, The Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, of NIMASA Mr. Ahmed Gambo, Honorable T. A. Hoba, IMO technical committee for Francophone Western Central Africa

“The psychic behind this is to ensure that these marshals are close to the loading/unloading bays of river crafts and thus enforce strict observance of regulations with respect to safety of lives and assets at sea”, he explained.

Earlier in his speech, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Mr. Kitack Lim who was represented by the Regional Coordinator, West and Central Africa-Anglophone, Technical Cooperation Division, IMO, Capt. Dallas Laryea stated that international trade is very critical to the world’s economy with estimation of 90% of world trade and two thirds of its energy supplies carried by sea which makes safety paramount.

Capt. Laryea commended NIMASA for its systematic and well laid-down procedures which the Agency has put in place to respond to emergencies that may occur at sea, especially in the Gulf of Guinea.

He also charged the Agency to continue to support the region and urged member states of the regional SAR to continue to collaborate to ensure a safe and secure West and Central African maritime domain.

It would be recalled that Nigeria is the host of the Regional Search and Rescue Coordinating Center and this is the 4th meeting of the Regional Search and Rescue Committee with attendance of member states which includes; Equatorial Guinea, Togo, Garbon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Benin Republic, Cameroun, Sao Tome & Principe, Nigeria.