Wreck removed along the Badagry creek during the ongoing wreck removal exercise by NIMASA
… As Coy donates 2 Argentine horses to Navy’s polo team***
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced preparatory works to deploy a high-resolution magnetometer to validate the ongoing wreck removal exercise of identified wrecks listed for removal along Badagry Creek in Lagos.
The agency’s Director-General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Sunday.
Also read: NIMASA Donates Educational Materials to Physically Challenged Students in C’ River
Jamoh said that the impact of the entire exercise on the marine environment was being assessed by NIMASA.
He said this during a review session of the ongoing wreck removal exercise by the Agency.
“We shall also conduct a full bottom sweeping operation by deploying a sonar imagery system with a view to establishing any existing natural or artificial obstacles lying on the seabed within the area of survey for this phase of the wreck removal exercise.
“NIMASA is also taking into consideration, the impact of the entire operations on the marine environment with a view to ensuring the safety of marine lives.
“We are monitoring the entire exercise closely to guarantee total removal of all identified wrecks,” he said.
Jamoh noted that amongst those already removed include a completely submerged Barge which was lying over 10 meters deep along the Badagry channel on coordinates 711006.1 Easting and 535294.9 Northing.
He said that the agency had also successfully removed two other completely submerged barges beneath the water at 530924.9 Northing and 710608.3 Easting.
“Another completely submerged Barge which has been lying dangerously along the channels on 711617.5 Easting and 533601.6 Northing has also been successfully removed and taken to the dumpsite located in Kirikiri Lagos.
“These are amongst the identified wrecks removed along the creek from Tin-Can Island to Navy Town,” he said.
He added that NIMASA had worked with the Hydrography Department of the Nigerian Navy to identify these wrecks as critical.
“We worked closely with the Hydrography Unit of the Nigerian Navy in charting the waters and establishing these wrecks as critical for immediate removal.
“Some are completely submerged while others are partially submerged.
“This Badagry creek is a commercial route with passenger vessels plying and we place a premium on the safety of lives and properties.
“We are confident that on completion, operations of the Navy in patrolling our waters will also be enhanced as the routes will be free of wrecks,” he said.
Jamoh said that NIMASA was charged with the responsibility of ensuring the safety of navigation in line with the Wreck Removal Convention that was adopted at the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, diplomatic conference in Nairobi Kenya in 2007 and entered into force on April 14, 2015.
“Nigeria was the eight-country to ratify the Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks,” he said.
In another development, the Casiva group of companies Ltd. has donated two Argentine ponies (horses) to the Nigerian Navy (NN) polo team for their outstanding performance.
The Chairman of the company, Alhaji Nasiru Dano, said his organization decided to donate the horses to the service because of their outstanding performance in the game of polo in the country.
“The fastest-growing polo team today in Nigeria is the NN polo team.
In less than one year, I remember during the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo conference, which took place in Kano State, and also in Abuja, they did marvelously well by clinching the trophies.
“They were in Port Harcourt for the Theophilus Danjuma’s polo tournament and they clinched the trophy.
Even during the 50th anniversary of the Nigerian Army polo competition, the NN team won the trophy.
“In Lagos, they were there also, during the Lagos State polo tournament, they did very well.
We all know that polo is military and the military is polo.
“Therefore, we have no reason not to encourage them for such performance in the game of polo.
“We at Casiva Ltd., want the team to do more because we have seen the commitment of the CNS.
“In less than one year, what NN has done in the game is a pointer to the fact that they are really making the military and the country proud.
The chairman, however, promised that his organization would partner with the NN team in the promotion of the game, not only in the country but at the international level.
Dano added that the gesture was to further encourage the team to continue to do the good job it had been doing by making the NN, the military, and the country proud.
He, however, prayed that the game of polo would continue to unite the people playing the game, the armed forces, and the country at large.
In his remarks, the CNS expressed appreciation to the organization for the uncommon gesture, adding that it would go a long way in boosting the morale of the players.
“I feel highly elated and humbled at this kind gesture as well as identifying with the NN polo team, which I therefore appreciate.
Gambo recalled that in September 2021, during the CNS annual conference, the NN polo team debuted in the game which was initiated by Dano.
“Since then, the NN polo team has demonstrated courage, determination and enthusiasm, which were reflected in Port Harcourt club internal polo tournament as they won the Theophilus Danjuma trophy in January 2022.
“Also, in February 2022, the team was second runner-up in the Lagos State polo tournament.
In the just-concluded NN week, the team defeated the Nigerian Army polo team to clinch the trophy.
He said that all the achievements were indications of a strong team that must be encouraged.
The CNS added that with the donation, the team would begin another path towards becoming a formidable force to be reckoned with in the game of polo in Nigeria and beyond.
“I have no doubt that the entire NN and the team will continue to relish the kind gesture for a better outing.
