inaugurated the Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday in Abuja, with a charge to the members to
speed up completion of the Deep Blue Project.
The maritime security project, also known as the Integrated National
Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, aims to
comprehensively tackle insecurity on Nigeria’s territorial waters and
Exclusive Economic Zone, up to the Gulf of Guinea.
Amaechi told the new board members that the Deep Blue Project was
critical to maritime security in Nigeria and the entire West and Central
Africa region. He disclosed that about 60 per cent of the project’s cost
had been paid by the Federal Government.
The Minister charged the Management and Board of NIMASA to “go and
complete the Deep Blue Project,” stressing that the success of NIMASA
is, to a great extent, dependent on completion of the project.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Board, Honourable Asita O. Asita,
thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the honour bestowed on them.
Asita pledged to work harmoniously with the NIMASA Management to deliver
the Agency’s mandate.
The board chairman stated, “If we must trade as a country, we need the
waterways to be safe.” He said the security of the maritime domain was
of utmost importance to the country, adding that NIMASA cannot afford to
play with the issues of safety and security.
Other members of the 10-member Board are the Director-General of NIMASA,
Dr. Bashir Jamoh; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage
Services, Victor Ochei; Executive Director, Finance and Administration,
Hon. Chudi Offodile; and Executive Director, Operations, Shehu Ahmed.
Also on the Board are Adekola Adefemi, Mohammed Abubakar, Hassan Rasaq
Mahmud, Eyewumi Daniel Neburagho, and Rear Admiral Ibikunle Taiwo
Olaiya.