BY GODWIN OBI WITH REPORTS FROM RAY UGOCHUKWU
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General, His Excellency Kitach Lim, has commended the cordial working relationship between the Minister of Transportation, Engr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Lim made the commendation Tuesday in Kirikiri town, Lagos, as he commissioned the country’s regional maritime safety centre now renamed after him. Speaking at the brief ceremony, the IMO scribe hailed the Minister and his team at the ministry for the synergy with which they worked with NIMASA in achieving the huge success it had recorded in the sub-region.
“I’m happy to be in Nigeria. I want to thank Nigeria and NIMASA for what they are doing in maritime safety in the region.
“I’ve observed the close working relationship between the minister and Dr. Jamoh. This is very good. I see that everybody in the ministry, including the hardworking Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ajani and other staff, are all committed to ensuring that NIMASA succeeds. I thank you all”, he said.
He added, “I look forward to your doing even better for the agency. Nigeria has done very well in maritime safety and I believe with the good working relationship I’ve seen, it’ll do more”.
In his welcome speech, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, had commended Lim for his timely visit to the country.
Jamoh also thanked him for the support he had given Nigeria from the IMO angle to enable it achieve the feat so far recorded.
Noting that IMO boss’s visit would be his last to the country in that capacity as his tenure would soon end, the NIMASA DG jocularly looked forward to hosting him again “this time as UN Secretary General”.
Lim, who arrived at the NIMASA Resource Centre, now renamed Kitack Lim Regional Maritime Safety and Security Centre of Excellence (KLRMSSCE), in a chopper, later commissioned the complex.
He took a tour of the complex including the ultra-modern library, among other departments.
…unveils NIMASA new headquarters
The IMO head had earlier in the day commissioned the newly acquired multi-billion naira NIMASA headquarters located in the highbrow area of Victoria Island before heading for Kirikiri for what was the final lap of his visit to the country.
While applauding the initiative of the modern edifice, he stated that more important is the human competence and capability, while leadership is the most paramount, as has been exhibited by the Minister of Transportation.
“An important element is human competency and capability, with leadership being the most paramount to consider, which I have seen exhibited by the Minister; he is an extraordinary and rare leader. I am very confident to look forward to more prosperous opportunities and development of maritime activities of Nigeria”, he said.
He stated that Nigeria will strive to ensure Nigerian maritime activities are in line with best practices, while also embracing new technologies in the frontier of global maritime discourse.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman, House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu, who commended the Dr. Bashir Jamoh led Management of NIMASA.
She equally noted that NIMASA should aim higher as there is room for improvement.
The NIMASA Director General, Dr. Jamoh, also thanked the IMO Secretary General for his visit to Nigeria, saying, “your name will remain in gold as long as Nigeria’s Maritime Administration is concerned”.
Jamoh further intimated him that NIMASA has embarked on various projects in the year, 2022, all with the aim of ensuring that a robust and conducive maritime environment is attained in Nigeria. This, he said, has been made possible with the support of stakeholders across board.
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