MARITIME AGENCIES HARMONISE OVERLAP OF STATUTORY FUNCTIONS
Government agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation have resolved to harmonise all issues relating to overlap in their statutory responsibilities with a view to forestalling any clash.
Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, disclosed this in Lagos after a meeting of heads of the agencies held in Lagos at the headquarters of the Nigerian Shippers Council.
In attendance at the meeting were Executive Secretary/CEO of the NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello; Jamoh; and Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman. Others include Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, Dr. George Moghalu, and Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria MAN, Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (Rtd), who joined via Zoom.
- DG NIMASA Dr. Bashir Jamoh, receives a plaque from the Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Shippers Council Barr Hassan Bello, during the maiden edition of the meeting recently in Lagos.
The DG stated that this resolution is sequel to a report of a ministerial committee, stressing that meetings like this are necessary to build synergy and create the right atmosphere for the overall progress of the economy.
“We have held the inaugural meeting for improved synergy and we hope to hold it on a monthly basis for the next four months. Due to the proximity of our corporate headquarters to each, a lot of gains will be achieved in a short while without the usual official bureaucracy.
“From our discussions and deliberations, we have decided on so many issues that concern national development, overlapping functions, and others.
“The Federal Ministry of Transport, which supervises these agencies had before now, inaugurated a committee and we have been working for close to a year now. We have now decided on who should take what responsibility and we are going ahead with that”, the DG said.
It was also gathered that the heads of the various agencies believe that there is no better time than now to promote synergy among agencies under the ministry. This is especially at a time the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about disruptions to business and economy, which now places a great deal of responsibility on the maritime sector as a vital support to the economy and key medium for the movement of essential supplies.
( Business and Transport)
