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Jamoh’s two years of revolutionary stewardship in Nigeria’s maritime industry

Bashir Jamoh, DG, NIMASA
Eyewitness reporter
On March 10th, 2020, exactly two years today, Dr Bashir Jamoh officially took over from his predecessor, Dr Dakuku Peterside, as the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
During the handing over ceremony which took place at the Corporate Headquarters of the agency, Dakuku Peterside, while handing over the mantle of leadership to Dr Jamoh,  said he could not have wished for a better successor because Jamoh, a “homegrown” administrator per excellence, possesses the requisite institutional knowledge that would immensely benefit the industry.
Dakuku couldn’t have been more accurate about Jamoh because the maritime industry has witnessed unprecedented changes in character and contents since the Kaduna state-born, hard-core technocrat took over.
The whirlwind of impactful changes which were initiated by Jamoh has touched all the facets of maritime administration such as maritime security, maritime safety, port state control, flag state control, maritime labour, capacity building and even the staff of the agency have benefitted from the immense managerial capacity of Jamoh through enhanced welfare packages.
For the first time in 17 years, the piracy level in the notorious Gulf of Guinea drastically reduced within the two years in office of Jamoh, a feat which attracted commendation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
Below are the chronicles of the achievements of Jamoh- led administration within the two years he assumed duties as the Director-General of NIMASA.

OPERATIONS/ACTIVITIES OF NIMASA 

MARITIME SAFETY 

The Agency continues to improve its port and flag state functions which is the core of maritime safety. The performance of the Agency in this regard in the last 4 years is highlighted below: 

Port State Inspection (PSI): 

Year  PSI  % Diff 
2017  525 
2018  659  38% (Increase) 
2019 725  10% (Increase) 
2020 510  -29.65 (Decrease) 

Total port state inspection in 2019 was 726 vessels of the 5,035 vessels calls which represent a 10% improvement from the preceding year and 14.42% of the total ship call. This is however short of the 15% requirement under IMO by 0.8% of which we are working hard to surpass. 

Total port state inspections in 2020 were 510 of 4,728 vessel calls. (COVID-19 lockdown impacted negatively on the Port State Inspections) 

Year  FSI  % Diff 
2018  1,737 
2019 2,580  49% (Increase) 
2020 2,244  13% decrease 

In 2019, the Agency performed a total of 2,580 flag state inspections representing 2,123 renewal inspections, 276 condition surveys and 181 Random Flag State Surveys. This showed a 49% increase from the 1,737 Total Flag State Inspections carried out in 2018 comprising 1,241 Flag State Renewal Inspections, 381 Condition Surveys and 115 Random Flag State Surveys. However, the decrease in 2020 is attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

Marine incidents/accidents: 

Sadly, the Agency recorded 22 marine incidents in 2019 and 21 in 2018. Investigations were carried out while some are still ongoing. 

NIMASA has put in tremendous efforts to mitigate the tide of maritime insecurity in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea through several maritime domain awareness interventions and collaborative efforts. 

NIMASA’S EFFORTS IN ADDRESSING MARITIME INSECURITY IN NIGERIA AND THE GULF OF GUINEA 

  • Passage of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill 
  1. Establishment of integrated national maritime surveillance and security infrastructure 
  2. International Ship and Port Facility Security (Code) Implementation: The implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has steadily impacted the level of security in the nation’s port areas and facilities.
  3. Resuscitation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System(GMDSS) Equipment 
  4. The Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity (RMAC) Centre 
  5. International collaboration: NIMASA is currently engaging international stakeholders, including BIMCO, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and Oil Companies International Maritime Forum-OCIMF, under the auspices of NIMASA/Industry Maritime Security Work Group (NIWG) to entrench coordinated response to piracy attacks 
  6. Institutionalization of Collaboration with National Authorities: The Agency has spearheaded the institutionalization of the collaboration between her and other frontline maritime agencies for improved maritime safety and security and efficient port operations. 

CAPACITY BUILDING MILESTONES 

Human Capacity Development 

Statutory financial contribution to Maritime Academy, Oron 

Nigerian Seafarers Development Program (NSDP): 40/60 ratio 

50/50 ratio 100% 

  • Currently, the Agency has trained over 2600 Nigerian Seafarers in various credible maritime institutions UK, Egypt, Philippines, Malaysia, etc. 
  • Recently, the Agency secured the placement of over 400 cadets on board ships for the mandatory SEA-TIME training to make them globally competitive and employable. 
  • NIMASA also sent some of its staff on long term training abroad to build internal capacities in various aspects of the maritime industry at the prestigious World Maritime University. 

INDIGENOUS SHIPPING CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT 

Procurement of the 5th largest modular floating dockyard in Africa to reduce the cost of ship repairs and maintenance 

This milestone achievement comes under a unique Fund known as the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), designed to provide financial assistance to Nigerian Operators in domestic coastal shipping to own vessels and enhance their competitiveness. 

Fiscal and Monetary Policy Initiatives: We have continued our engagement with the MDAs to entrench appropriate fiscal and monetary policy initiatives to pave way for the competitive participation of indigenous operators in shipping activities in Nigeria. These include but are not limited to: 

  • A push for the change in terms of trade from FOB to CIF for the affreightment of crude oil (NNPC) • Single-digit interest rate for the maritime sector (CBN/NEXIM BANK/AFRIEXIM)
• Concessionalforeignexchangerateforshipacquisition(CBN)
• EngagementwithOfficeoftheVicePresident/EconomicManagementTeam 

We continued our engagement with state governments to buy into our cargo support initiative aimed at creating a cargo pool for affreightment by indigenous operators. 

 Ship Tonnage Growth: Aggressive repositioning of the Nigerian Ship Registration Office (NSRO) 

  •   The Nigerian Ship Registration Office recorded 13.8% tonnage growth from 2018 to 2019. 

  •   This trajectory of growth was negatively impacted by the global covid-19 pandemic. 

  •    However, the Nigerian Ship Registry ranks second in tonnage measurement in Africa after Liberia which operates an open and more flexible registry. 
 Remodelling and commissioning of NIMASA Knowledge Centre E-Library
 The facility is open to staff, students/researchers and external stakeholders/maritime operators to increase the knowledge base of the 
Nigerian Maritime Sector 


SPECIAL INTERVENTION: COVID-19 RESPONSE AND CSR 

The Executive Management of NIMASA recognized from the outset the significant impact of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) Pandemic on the Transport Sector in Particular and the Global socio-economic activities in general, hence set up a multi-disciplinary Committee within the Agency to provide an informed risk assessment with appropriate responses. 


A major intervention of the Agency in ensuring the continued flow of trade was the declaration of Seafarers as KEY WORKERS to facilitate vital crew changes and excuse duty. Nigeria was among the first maritime nations to declare such and was commended by the IMO. 

Corporate Social Responsibility support to Federal and State government by the following donations to Federal & State authorities: 


  1. Cash donations of 30 Million Naira (N30,000,000.00) to the Federal Government Committee on COVID-19 Intervention


20 Million Naira (N20,000,000.00) cash donation to the Lagos State COVID-19 Intervention Task Force
B. Provided human capital/personnel support in the following areas: 

 Medical Personnel  Drivers
 Logistic officers 

  1. Deployment of the Agency’s Fire brigade trucks to fumigate Apapa and its environs. 

LOGISTICS SUPPORT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 

State 36-Seater Coaster Bus  16-Seater coaster Bus  Ambu-lance  Fast intervention Marine Vessels  Personal protective Equipment (PPEs) 
Abuja  1 1 1
Lagos  1 1 1 2
Rivers  1 1 2 (Onne and Port Harcourt) 
Delta  1 1 1
Cross River  2 (PSC to source)  1
Kaduna  2

SPECIAL INTERVENTION: CSR FOR FLOOD VICTIMS AND IDP CAMPS 

The Agency presented relief items to victims of flood disasters across the nation. Also, internally displaced persons as a result of the insurgency were not left out of Agency’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
Among the 20 states covered across the 6 geo-political zones are: 

  • Kaduna State
  • Kano State
  • Cross River State 

  • Delta State 

  • Lagos State 

  • Niger State 


VII. Benue State VIII. Ogun State IX. Ondo State 

COMMENDATIONS

The IMO in December 2020 applauded our efforts in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea Region
The Specialized Organ of the United Nation had earlier supported our action declaring Seafarers as key workers to facilitate crew changes during the COVID-19 induced international lockdown. 

Recently, the IMO gave institutional backing to NIMASA’s Marine Litter Action Plan. These and many more are evidence of our collaboration with the IMO.

The global shipping and economic climate was greatly impacted by the following  in 2020 all through 2021:

  • COVID-19
  • Lockdown
  • Disruption in the global supply chain; and
  • Slow down the economic activities across the globe.

Maritime Safety:

  • Flag State Implementation (FSO) – Vessels inspected/surveyed in accordance with the safety requirements of the MSA 2007

Conduct of Condition survey for Flag Registration

Comparing the number of vessels surveyed for flag registration relative to the previous year, it can be observed that the 2021 figure (489 vessels) is 43.6% higher than the total number of condition surveys carried out in 2020 (276 vessels).

Para-meter Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total
Total No of Condition Surveys for Flag Registration conducted in 2020 32 29 36 14 7 22 24 28 10 31 18 25 276
Total No of Condition Surveys for Flag Registration conducted in 2021 26 19 19 24 32 75 74 44 34 50 43 49 489
  • Port State Control (PCS) 229 foreign vessels boarded to ensure that such vessels maintained safety/pollution standard while in our ports and waters.

Port State Control Implementation

Comparing the number of vessels boarded relative to the previous year, it can be observed that the 2021 figure (673 vessels) is 24.2% higher than the total number of inspections carried out in 2020 (510 vessels).

  • Examination and Certification

Total exam conducted for officers at various capacities and certification for years 2020 and 2021

OFFICERS 2021

  • The total number of examinations conducted 829
  • Total candidate passed and certificated 264, forming a percentage of 32%
  • The total candidates failed 565, forming a percentage of 68%
  • Total certificate revalidated 2021: 246 certificates.

OFFICERS IN 2020

  • Total number of examinations conducted 610
  • Total candidates passed and certificated 251, forming a percentage of 41%
  • Total candidates failed 359, forming a percentage of 59%
  • Total certificate revalidated 2020: 132 certificates.

EXAMINATION RATINGS IN 2020

  • The total number of examinations conducted 1,251
  • Total candidates passed and certificated 926, forming a percentage of 74%
  • Total candidates failed 325, forming a percentage of 26%

EXAMINATION RATINGS IN 2020

  • The total number of examinations conducted 1,327
  • Total candidate passed and certificated 990, forming a percentage of 74%
  • Total candidates failed 337, forming a percentage of 26%
  • Online Seafarers Certificate of Competency (CoC) Verification Platform reactivated

The project has drastically reduced the forgery of Nigerian certificates and enhanced the employment of Nigerian Seafarers in the maritime sector. 

  • Enforcement of Safety Regulations on Barges and Tug Boards (Operation Sting Ray)
  • ISO 9001 Quality Assurance Certification for the operation of the Maritime Safety Department Approval of ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System for the Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department by Bureau Veritas (BV) in April 2020.
  • Revival of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) equipment – Necessary for sending alerts in an emergency. The GMDSS is to ensure the safety of life at sea.
  • Marine Accident Investigation Data/Information

Marine Pollution Prevention and Control

  • Marine Environment Management 

Nigeria has entered into MoU with Maritime Transport Coordination Centre (MTCC) on Climate Change for Africa to commence activities towards ensuring GHG emission reduction in the maritime sector with emphasis on achieving 0.5% Sulphur Oxide (SO2) in Bunker fuel oil.

  • Awareness creation
  • Establishment of bunker (fuel oil) supply register 
  • Accreditation of laboratories for testing bunker oil
  • Capacity building on the emission of reduction; and
  • Establishment of Compliance monitoring and Enforcement Team (CMET)
  • IOPC 92

Produced manual for the admissibility of claims under the fund.

The manual is to contain the price index for determining the quantum of claims for settlement in case of oil pollution.

  • Update on the Trinity Spirit FPSO

Maritime Security:

  • Deep Blue Project:

The Deep Blue Project was flagged off by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, 21st May, 2021.

The Agency has taken delivery of key assets of the Deep Blue Project including:

  • Two Special Mission Vessels (SMVs)
  • Seventeen Fast Interceptor Boats (FIBs)
  • Two Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs)
  • Sixteen Armoured Vehicles

Some of these assets have been deployed to the Nigerian Navy for its operational use.

  • The Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity (RMAC) Centre

Provision of the Regional Maritime Awareness Capacity (RMAC) Centre Kirikiri by the US Navy Upgraded to SEA VISION to allow for monitoring of vessels along the West and Central African region.

  • NIMASA/Industry Working Group

International collaboration among major international stakeholders in the maritime/shipping sector.

To entrench coordinated response to piracy and other criminalities on the Nigerian waters and prompt reportage and escalation of marine incidences to where the action is most expected and to provide navigational advisory to mariners.

  • The Maritime  Security & Intelligence Unit

For intelligence and information gathering and sharing that can help to stop piracy.

  • Collaboration with Security Agencies

At the strategic level, the Agency ensures a close liaison with the offices of the NSA , CNS, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the IGP.

The Agency has played a pivotal role in the institutionalization of the collaboration between her and other government agencies for improved maritime security and safety.

 

  • ISPS

The total number of currently operational onshore facilities in the ISPS unit is Ninety-eight (98) divided into six maritime zones.

For ease of administration because of their locations & accessibility, some zones are further subdivided.

In 2020 VIEs carried out as detailed below for the four (4) quarters

  1. Lagos subdivisions
    1. Apapa – 9
    2. Kirikiri – 12 
    3. Ijora & Ijegun – 8 in first & second quarter & 11 in last quarter 
    4. Tincan – 8 
  2. Port Harcourt – 11
  3. Calabar – 9
  4. Onne – 9
  5. Eket – 4
  6. Warri – 16

Total 87 (Eighty–Seven)

In 2021 VIEs carried out as detailed below for the four (4) quarters

  1. Lagos subdivisions
    1. Apapa – 10
    2. Kirikiri – 12 
    3. Ijora – 7
    4. Ijegun – 7
    5. Tincan – 8
  2. Port Harcourt – 13
  3. Calabar – 8
  4. Onne – 10
  5. Eket – 3
  6. Warri – 17

Total 96 (Ninety–Six)

Shipping Promotion and Capacity Development

  • Shipping Promotion
    • Concessions to boost indigenous ownership
    • Strengthen enforcement of Cabotage to boost local participation
    • Capactiy Development 
    • Human – Natural Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) – Training of over 2,600 Nigerian Seafarers in various maritime institutions worldwide and a good number of them who have completed their programmes are no gainfuully employed onboard vessels.
    • Assets – Approval for CVFF disbursement to assist in vessel acquisition by indigenous Nigerian Shipowners – Most Nigerian Operators in domestic coastal shipping now own vessels and enhance their competitiveness. 
    • Learning Infrastructure Upgrade
      • Completion of the renovation and furnishing of the conventional library
      • Digitization of the convention library books/other resource materials
      • Renewal of e-library management software:

2022 in Focus

  • Strengthen our maritime safety and security enforcement mechanisms
  • Organise a stakeholders’ engagement towards harnessing the potentials of a blue economy
  • Enhance revenue for increased contribution to the consolidated revenue fund
  • Movement of the Agency’s Headquarters to its newly acquired building in Victoria Island.
  • Operationalization of the floating dock
  • Establishment of regional maritime safety and security training centre
  • Build regional maritime search and rescue clinic
  • Resuscitate Lokoja office
  • Construction of NIMASA zonal offices (Central zone and Eastern zone)
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Headlines

MWUN threatens to picket shipping companies, terminal operators over manipulation of pension remittances of seafarers, dockworkers

Gloria Odion 
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria(MWUN) has accused terminal operators, shipping companies and ship owners of shortchanging dockworkers and seafarers in their employment in the remittance of their pensions to the appropriate authorities.
In a statement by the union led by  Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, the erring service providers were allegedly either holding back the deductions made from the salaries of their staff into the pension funds scheme or under- remitting the deductions.
The union warned of dire consequences for such act which it regarded as unethical and illegal and threatened to shut down any service provider found culpable in this illegal act.
“The leadership of the Union recently got the wind of these employers of labour and terminal operators over their acts of irregular remittance of their employees pensions to its appropriate quarters.
“Thus shortchanging the Seafarers and  the Dockworkers, both categories of workers from the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.
“It was also learnt that some Ship Owners and Terminal Operators have allegedly stopped the remittance of Dockworkers and Seafarers’ PSA in their employ, which is a gross violation of labour laws.
” As a result, the President -General of the Union, Comrade Bunu, stated  that the Union will have no other option than to descend heavily and bring to book all the earring managements of these companies working against the ethics and practices of labour rules in their various companies.
“The Delta State- born labour leader made this point known, stressing that it’s unlawful to deny workers their pensions rights either by crook or hook,;  and may not hesitate to call out these Concessionaires and Shipping Companies that have defaulted in the payment of the statutory pensions of the Union Members.
“Comrade Bunu also said that these erring companies in the Maritime sector would be shut down if this ugly trend is not reversed to status quo.” the statement concluded.
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Headlines

Tantita Security to bankroll 2025 OTC in USA

Gloria Odion 
The foremost security provider in Nigeria, Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) has been confirmed as the official sponsor of the 2025 Offshore Technology conference scheduled to hold in Houston Texas, United States on 5-8 May , 2025 .
Executive Director, Technical and operations , Tantita security services Limited, Captain Wareddi Enisuoh  in an interview with journalists on Friday, said the company attracted the OTC conference lucrative sponsorship deal in recognition of its  capacity to deliver on the conference.
Founded in 1969 , Offshore Technology conference is a series of conferences and exhibitions, focused on exchanging technical knowledge relevant to the development of offshore energy resources , primarily Oil and Natural Gas.
The conference also serves as the meeting place for the brightest minds to share ideas , discuss, debate and build consensus around the most pressing challenges and innovations in the offshore energy sector.
This year’s exhibitors , speakers and attendees represent some of the highest calibre professionals from more than 100 countries .
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Customs

Customs shuns N12 trillion inflated revenue target imposed by National Assembly 

— focuses on realising N6.5 trillion 2025 target 
Funso OLOJO 
The Nigeria Customs Service may have tactically shrugged off the imposition of the N12 trillion revenue target by the National Assembly.
It could be recalled that government gave the NCS ₦6.5 trillion revenue target for 2025.
This followed the impressive revenue performance of the service in 2024 when it surpassed that year’s target of N5.07 trillion by 20.2 percent.
However , in January, 2025, the National Assembly joint committee on Finance led by its chairmen, Senator Sani Musa and Hon. James Faleke, believed that the projection of N6.5 trillion revenue target given to the customs was conservative and encouraged the NCS to aim higher.
Consequently, the joint committee slammed a whooping sum of N12 trillion as revenue target, doubling the initial N6.5 trillion projected revenue.
This humongous target sparked off an outrage among perplexed stakeholders who felt the target imposed by the law makers was outrageous and unrealistic which they feared may stretch the capacity of the customs to a breaking point and put unnecessary pressure on the men and officers of the agency.
Indication that the Customs authority may not be well disposed to the imposed target of N12 trillion by the National Assembly emerged recently when the Comptroller -General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, was giving account of the activities of the service in the first quarter of 2025.
While giving the analysis of the revenue performance of the service during the period under review, Adeniyi benchmarked the revenue generated by the service during the first quarter of 2025 by N6.5 trillion revenue target given by the Federal Ministry of Finance, thus jettisoning the N12 trillion imposed by the National Assembly.
 Against our annual target of ₦6,580,000,000,000.00, the first quarter’s proportional benchmark stood at ₦1,645,000,000,000.00.
“I’m proud to announce we’ve exceeded this target by ₦106.5 billion, achieving 106.47% of our quarterly projection.
” This outstanding performance represents a substantial 29.96% increase  compared  to  the  same  period  in  2024,  where  we  collected
₦1,347,705,251,658.31″ Adewale stated, while giving the analysis of the performance of the service in the first three months of the year.
Analysts believed that from the analysis of the revenue performance of the NCS in the first quarter of the year which was predicated on the N6.5  trillion revenue target, it was obvious that the service was not paying much attention to the imposed N12 trillion,  but rather focusing on how to meet the more realistic target of N 6 .5 trillion.
” You can see that the CGC did not make mention of the N12 trillion imposed by the National Assembly which presupposes that the unrealistic amount is not in the reckoning of the Customs” a customs broker who plies his trade at Apapa port, said, pleading for anonymity.
” Where  on earth do they want the Customs to realize such an humongous amount of money in a depressed economy, in a country where importation has plummeted due to the unfriendly policies of government?
“It is unfortunate that these people (the law makers) have lost touch with the current economic realities in the country.
” All what they are after is to witch hunt government agencies to go and hunt for money for them to share.
” If not, how could they sit down in the comfort of their air conditioned offices and imposed such amount of revenue for customs to realize.
” Of course, the pressure would be on the men and officers of the service who will in turn go after the hapless importers and their agents in the most brutal way to raise the imposed target.
” It is unfortunate that the lawmakers, who are expected to make laws that will encourage export drive of the Federal government, are those asking the customs to focus more on the import goods where such money could be realized” another freight forwarder, who did not want his name in print but based at Tin Can Island port, declared.
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