Headlines
Security expert spurns Deep Blue Project as incapable of ending piracy in Nigeria

“Piracy and insecurity on our waters are created by NIMASA themselves.
” When you train professionals and you don’t give them jobs, you have tactically trained sea pirates. Every trained and certified seafarer is a potential sea pirate.
“Being a seafarer is a professional job. It is either you use your skill illegally or legally. I don’t see the Deep Blue Assets as the solution to the problem on the ground.

sea pirates
“NIMASA is supposed to first look at the causes of insecurity in the system. But they are not looking at the causes and they want to solve problems.
“We all know that unemployment is a major reason why we have an increase in insecurity in the maritime system.
“Instead of you creating jobs, you are using the money to invest in one Deep Blue Project, buying fighter jets and you think it will work?
” The question is where are the remaining 2,500 seafarers and what are they doing?
“Is that the person you want to use your fighter jet to fight? I don’t see the solution being provided by NIMASA as the ultimate solution to the problem on the ground.
” Let them create jobs for unemployed seafarers and you will see if the insecurity will not reduce” Oniye noted.
As a better panacea to fighting piracy, the security expert however charged NIMASA to create job opportunities for certified seafarers and create enabling environments in the country for foreign shipbuilding companies in order to make the Cabotage Act work effectively.
“Use the money you are spending on these assets to create jobs for seafarers. The Cabotage Act says vessels must be built in the country, manned, owned, and crewed by Nigerians.
“NIMASA should create an enabling environment for these foreign companies to come to Nigeria and start building vessels.
” Even the Nigeria-owned vessels are not even getting jobs because foreign vessels are taking over their jobs” Oniye declared.
Headlines
Aftermath of Adeyanju’s exit, crisis resurfaces in MWUN

Headlines
NIMASA embarks on digital revolution to plug revenue leakages, enhance optimum operations

— spurns smear campaign against the process
“To set the records straight, following a comprehensive internal review of operational systems, the current leadership of NIMASA resolved to embrace technology as a means of enhancing the Agency’s capacity to deliver on its regulatory mandate more effectively and to bring into the coffers of government additional revenue ensure funds due government does not end up in private hands.
“A pivotal innovation in this regard is the Maritime Enhanced Monitoring System (MEMS).
“The additional recipients targeted are, waste reception services, a routine operation for both domestic and international vessels have traditionally lacked proper tracking, resulting in unmonitored activities and significant revenue losses.
“Marine pollution control, another critical area of NIMASA’s mandate, has similarly been constrained by limited digital tools. In the absence of satellite tracking and automated reporting, pollution events often go unnoticed or are reported too late to mitigate their impact.
“It is important to emphasize that past revenue shortfalls experienced by the Agency mainly stemmed from outdated manual processes, fragmented data systems, and insufficient digital enforcement mechanisms which allowed some external elements to capitalize on the loopholes for personal gains .
“The current reforms being implemented by NIMASA are focused squarely on overcoming these limitations.
“The public is therefore advised to disregard the misleading reports and instead support NIMASA’s transformation journey as it aligns with the broader national objectives of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
“The Agency remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s maritime governance, ensuring environmental safety, and optimizing revenue for the nation.
“It is worthy of note that the Deep Blue Project of the Agency which now enjoys global recognition also witnessed such resistance at the initial stage” the agency noted.
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