We are totally committed to CVFF disbursement – NIMASA DG

… as MMGG praises NIMASA on good governance

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has disclosed that it is totally committed to the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) as the Maritime Media for Good Governance (MMGG) praised it on good governance.

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Director General of NIMASA, disclosed this Tuesday when members of the Maritime Media for Good Governance (MMGG), an advocacy body for good governance, visited him at the NIMASA head office in Apapa, Lagos.

Represented by the Executive Director of Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Gambo Ahmed, the Director General noted that the fund belongs to shipping operators and as soon as the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Transport gives the final approval, it would be disbursed but not like the defunct ship building and acquisition fund which was misappropriated.

‘’The final approval for the disbursement of the fund lies with the minister and he has met with key stakeholders on the fund and explained to them the guidelines. There is total commitment to its disbursement. The fund is not meant for stakeholder to take a second wife but to grow local capacity of the operators,’’ said Peterside.

Thanking the body for the visit, he said the bedrock of any government is good governance and that NIMASA is totally committed to good governance in all its operations and the overall growth of the industry for the growth of the nation.

Peterside assured the visitors that NIMASA would work and support MMGG on its aim of enthroning good governance in the industry which, he said, has been the fulcrum of the laudable achievements so far recorded by the present administration in NIMASA.

Earlier in his address, the Coordinator of MMGG, Mr. Ray Ugochukwu said the Group, as an advocacy body, was established to support and enthrone good governance not only in the maritime sector but other sectors of the nation’s economy, saying in the last three years, there has been tremendous growth in the industry which he attributed to the good governance in NIMASA.

Mr. Ugochukwu noted that NIMASA as a maritime body has become a role model for the sub-region and all its achievements and that of other organisations such as the Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigeria Customs Service must not be swept under the carpet.

Speaking further, the MMGG Coordinator stated that the maritime industry has witnessed robust achievements under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, noting that the MMGG is working with the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) to showcase to Nigerians the giant stride of the present government in the maritime sector.

‘’The government of President Muhammadu Buhari has done so much for the growth of the industry. As an advocacy body, we will educate and showcase to Nigerians the achievements of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in the industry,’’ said Ugochukwu who sought the support of NIMASA for MMGG