Ijaw Youths Rap Ship Owners over Attack on NIMASA Boss

By Emmanuel Addeh in Yenagoa

Ijaw youths yesterday defended the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, describing the recent call for his sacking by the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) as “needless distraction”.

The Ship owners had recently demanded the removal of the NIMASA boss, citing alleged incompetence  which they claimed had crippled indigenous shipping operations in the country.

They also noted that the subsector was in crisis due to lack of funding and deficient government policies.

Coming under the umbrella of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, the youths noted that rather than castigate Peterside, the NIMASA boss should get thumbs up for changing the face of the agency in a short time.

Daniel Dasimaka, the national IYC Spokesman, in a statement in Yenagoa, said that Ijaw youths were saddened by the ‘needless attacks’ on Dr. Peterside, whom he said had succeeded in reducing attacks in the waterways of Nigeria.

“It is shameful that Mr Greg Ogbeifun, the President of an association like SOAN would de-market the Nigerian Maritime sector by claiming that ‘IMO and the rest of the world are aware that our maritime domain has remained a high security risk .

“He also said it is most unsafe for seaborne trade and activities such as piracy, hostage taking and kidnapping all in a desperate bid to discredit and malign Dr. Peterside.

“for the record, NIMASA safety records under Dakuku Peterside are unparalleled. In the last one year, NIMASA recorded less than 10 maritime accidents. Contrary to the SOAN President’s claims,  under Dr Peterside, NIMASA actually foiled seven out of eleven sea pirates attacks in Nigerian waterways”, the IYC said.

The youths added that the agency was currently pushing for the passage of an Anti-piracy bill for a safer Nigerian Maritime domain, noting that Peterside secured the Minister of Transportation’s approval to increase the number of Search and Rescue Marshalls from 100 to 1000 for safety boat users in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

They maintained that in the last one year, the activities in NIMASA had attracted the United States Coast Guard’s commendation, describing the call for his sacking as baseless and without justification.

“Under Peterside, NIMASA has taken all corrective measures recommended by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) report in June 2016. Thus, it now operates a 24-hour surveillance system to capture vessels in the Nigerian Maritime domain irrespective of weather conditions”, the group added.

Among others, the IYC also argued that the 24-hour surveillance system has reduced NIMASA billing operational time from 72 hours down to 24 hours, with the target being six hours.