NIMASA To Facilitate Trade Along Coastline

NIMASA has highlighted the huge benefits of Nigeria’s vast coastline to facilitate trade in the West African sub region.

NIMASA DG, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said this while meeting with the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the Nigeria/Niger Joint Commission for Co-operation and Transportation. He said Nigeria has a coastline of 853km and about 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone. This should be used to reap maximum benefits.

Dakuku emphasised the need to cooperate with other countries including landlocked neighbours to facilitate trade. This he said will serve Nigeria’s interest politically, socially and economically”.

“Although NIMASA is set up as a regulatory agency, we see ourselves as facilitators of trade using the maritime sector as the common denominator”.

Committee Chairman, Peter Utsu, also noted the benefits of cooperation with Niger Republic. He stated that the success of the  current anti-terrorism war is due to cooperation with the neighbouring company.

He added that with co-operation in areas of transportation, both countries would benefit in areas of trade, employment opportunities and foster good bilateral relationships.

NIMASA also reiterated its commitment to implement the 1992 International Civil Liability Convention and the 1992 International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund.

Peterside who was represented by Director Abuja Zonal office, Ali Indabawa, at an industry forum in Abuja, assured stakeholders that the Agency is committed to the adequate implementation of the IOPC Fund and related conventions for the benefit of dwellers of coastal communities and the preservation of the marine environment.

NIMASA, Reps, Disagree Over Contract Fees

Meanwhile, NIMASA boss, Dakuku Peterside and the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration were in sharp disagreement yesterday over the agency’s debt profile and contract to recover them. While the commitee puts the figure at $5bn, Peterside claimed it is $420.5 million

Committee Chairman Umar Bago, claimed that there have been a lot of petitions over the recent award of contract to a firm, SNECO Financial Services. The company was said to have been incorporated on April 4, 2016, which the petitioners claimed breached due process. Also, under the terms of contract, SNECO will take 13 per cent of the recovered debts, a figure the committee described as huge

But Peterside said NIMASA complied with all due processes required in awarding the contract and that the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, awarded a certificate of no objection.

Daniel Asuquo, a member of the committee directed the NIMASA DG to produce the audited account of the firm. Asuquo, He asked the DG to furnish the committee with documents indicating the pedigree of SNECO, its audited account, and owners.

The committee, however, said it would conduct a public hearing into the processes which is expected to take place next week.