FG REPOSITIONING MARITIME INDUSTRY TO BETTER NIGERIA’S ECONOMY – SGF

The Federal Government is working to position the Nigerian maritime sector for the growth of the Nigerian economy.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha said such development would make the sector a new attraction for investors.

In the press statement made available to our correspondent by Isichei Osamgbi Head, Corporate Communications, NIMASA, the SGF said this at the NIMASA Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards held in Lagos, over the weekend.

The SGF pointed out that the nation was beginning to see another opportunity through which it could harness its vast resources.

Mustapha, who was represented by the Honourable Minister of Budget, Senator Udo Udoma, equally noted that the current Management of NIMASA had in about three years of President Buhari’s Administration turned around the Agency and placed it on a good position to continue to contribute to the growth of the economy.

He also used the opportunity to congratulate and urge the awardees and the industry stakeholders to remain focused in supporting the Federal Government’s drive to take Nigeria’s economy to greater height.

“The DG and his team and the Board are doing well in NIMASA. They have transformed the organisation. I will also like to congratulate the Minister of Transportation because it is through his guidance and supervision that all these transformations have taken place. He is an action man, somebody that makes things happen.

I will like to congratulate all the award winners; you should all keep up the good work” Senator Udoma said.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside reiterated the fact that the maritime industry remained the backbone of international trade and that the Nigerian maritime sector had made remarkable achievements in the last two years.

Speaking further, he noted that despite the challenges faced in the sector, the stakeholders’ commitment, professionalism and resilience were the reasons the Agency was doing well.

“The Nigerian maritime sector is on a journey, we are not where we are going yet, hence we need the continuous support of our stakeholders in our quest to realize a robust maritime sector, so that we can compete favourably with our counterparts in other maritime climes,” Dr. Dakuku said.

He also applauded the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for consistently providing direction for the transportation sector and gave the assurance that NIMASA will continue to champion the growth and development of the shipping industry in Nigeria.

“We cannot do it alone, we will continue to collaborate and partner our stakeholders so that we can fully realize our mandates of promoting and regulating shipping activities in Nigeria,” he said.

In recognition of the numerous contributions of Stakeholders to the growth and development of the maritime sector in Nigeria, the Agency bestowed awards on outstanding maritime companies; Maersk Nigeria Limited, Gulf Agency Company (GAC) Nigeria Ltd, Charkins Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre among others, alongside some Staff of the Agency who have demonstrated commitment to the sector over the years.

The categories of awards bestowed included; Shipping Company of the Year 2018 Vessel Traffic (Foreign), Shipping Company of the Year 2018, Cargo Throughput (Foreign), Maritime Education and Training Institute of the Year 2018, Manning Agent of the Year 2018, Seafarers’ Employer of the Year 2018 as well as the Agency’s best staff for the year and some others who have meritoriously served the agency for numerous years amongst others.