Headlines
Jamoh set to break Nigeria’s 12-year failed bid for IMO Council seat

—embarks on campaign to clinch Category C slot
Eyewitness Reporter
The Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Bashir Jamoh, is seemed determined to break the jinx that has become Nigeria’s bid to be elected into the Category C of the International Maritime Organisation(IMO) since 2009.
The country has posted a string of losses at the council elections since 2009 when it began its futile attempt to retain the seat which it last won in 2007.
The country narrowly missed the opportunity to be admitted into the elite club in 2019 when he painfully lost to Kenya by a solitary one vote.
Now that the new voting date in December beckons, NIMASA seems not to be leaving anything to chances.
Dr. Jamoh has commenced intense but strategic consultations with those who matter in IMO politics, selling Nigeria’s candidature in the December elections.
Last week, in Lisbon Portugal at the third Seminar of the Atlantic Center, Jamoh solicited the support of Nigeria’s friends to vote for the country into the council of IMO in the election that comes up as part of the organization’s 32nd General Assembly which comes up from December 6 to 15, 2021.
On the heel of the Portugal campaign trip, the campaign train of NIMASA berthed at the London Headquarters of the IMO
In London, Jamoh sought and got an exclusive audience with the IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim and explained Nigeria’s preparedness to be elected alongside 39 other member countries of the organization into its main decision-making organ.
He explained that Nigeria, has in recent times, intensified efforts at ensuring improved maritime security, raising safety standards on Nigerian waters in line with IMO regulations, and achieving a pollution-free marine environment.
While giving a breakdown of noteworthy efforts by the Nigerian government to address problems of maritime piracy, sea robbery, and removal of wrecks for safe navigation, Jamoh told Lim that the country’s unwavering drive has resulted in a reduction in maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and its Exclusive Economic Zone.
Making specific reference to the recent third-quarter International Maritime Bureau (IMB) report, Jamoh told the IMO scribe that Nigerian waterways up to the Gulf of Guinea are presently having improved security.
On the IMB report, he said, “The report says the Gulf of Guinea recorded 28 incidents of piracy and armed robbery in the first nine months of 2021, compared to 46 in the same period in 2020.
”What is of particular importance to us in the report is the fact that Nigeria reported only four incidents during the period, against 17 and 41 cases that were recorded in 2020 and 2018, respectively.
“The IMB report shows that crew kidnappings in the region during the period dropped to only one crew member, compared to 31 taken in five separate incidents in Q3 2020.
”It is quite remarkable that the only crew kidnapping case recorded during the period under review was against the vessel at the port of exchange, while the average successful kidnapping location during the same period in 2020 was approximately 100 nautical miles from the land” Jamoh said.
On marine environment protection, Jamoh told Lim that Nigeria has engaged marine litter marshals to monitor and ensure compliance with international standards.
He expressed appreciation to the IMO and other international partners for their support through various maritime safety and security initiatives while also pledging Nigeria’s commitment to maritime scholarly endeavours under the aegis of World Maritime University (WMU).
Customs
Customs, UN agency collaborate to fight smuggling

“On behalf of the entire Management Team of the Nigeria Customs Service, I wish to inform you that we will partner with you in this campaign, and we will grant you all forms of support you may need to carry out this campaign — and I want to assign one of our amiable DCGs, Abba Kura, to work with you closely.”
He appreciated how they traveled from afar to inform the Nigeria Customs Service of their campaign against smuggling, which, according to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has already started yielding positive results in suppressing the menace of smuggling.
The CGC also welcomed Dr Raymond’s offer to engage officers and men of the Service in capacity—building to enhance their understanding of digital literacy skills, adding that the Service has already started embracing technology to advance its work by introducing related courses to officers.
The CGC appreciated the collaborative effort between the Nigeria Customs Service and UN—Habitat and believes that the collaboration signifies a commitment to tackling smuggling and enhancing trade facilitation in the nation, setting the stage for a more prosperous future.
He also appreciated their pledge to train officers and men of the Service in digital literacy skills, assuring that the Service will continue to prioritize proficiency in the fight against smuggling through a technological approach.
He underscored the importance of digital skills, promising that the relevant Service department will enhance trade facilitation.
On his part, the Director of UN—Habitat, Dr. Raymond Edoh, appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reposing the responsibility of heading the Nigeria Customs Service on the Acting Comptroller-General, describing him as “a competent Customs officer who knows the terrain and masters the job.”
According to him, they decided to visit the Ag. CGC at the Customs Headquarters to express their interest in partnering with the Service.
He appreciated the Service for being a “gatekeeper of the country” that protects citizens against border threats, stressing that his organization will collaborate with NCS to mitigate the smuggling of illicit goods and train officers and men of Customs on digital literacy skills and certification.
UN-Habitat is the United Nations entity responsible for developing urban policies and translating them into action to create sustainable cities and promote viable urban development and adequate shelter for all.
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