Connect with us

Headlines

Jamoh admonishes Marine Surveyors to embrace integrity, professionalism for enhanced maritime safety.

Eyewitness reporter
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, has advised marine surveyors in the industry to shun any form of compromise in the discharge of their duties but embrace integrity and professionalism that will enhance maritime safety.
Dr Jamoh gave the advice Wednesday in Calabar, Cross Rivers State capital while declaring open a two-day Marine Surveyors meeting/ workshop.
The NIMASA DG, who was represented by Engr. Olu Aladenusi, Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, noted that marine surveyors both from the flag and classification societies form an important part of the fundamental resources required to ensure the sustenance of maritime safety and environmental protection within the industry.
“As you focus on conducting effective flag and port state inspections within the provisions of our enabling Acts, Regulations. Guidelines, I encourage you
all to always demonstrate undiluted integrity and professionalism, avoid unreasonable compromise and encourage practical knowledge transfer and appropriate mentorship/succession planning within the marine surveying profession”
“It is crucial for us to remind ourselves that International Shipping has remained a highly competitive and profit-driven business that needs
to always comply with safety and environmental protection standards.
“Maritime safety standards must always be adhered to and there should be no compromise from ships, seafarers, vessel managers or operators etc.
“Maritime safety standards must always be adequately considered from the design stages of a vessel to the construction
stages, the competency of seafarers manning the vessels and down to operational stages and also in the decommissioning stage of the vessel”
“We should always ensure we work with integrity and endeavor to improve the quality of our surveys by applying available technologies.
“Our collective determination and the way we go about our inspection/survey activities must earn us a positive image globally.
“We all have a mandate to promote safe, secure and reliable shipping, so let us do it together, he declared.
Dr Jamoh warned that without credible and integrity-driven flag and port state inspections, “companies may want
to operate their ships at levels below the internationally acceptable standards and this, we all know could have unredeemable
consequences, such as; equipment failure, loss of lives, fatalities and even massive marine pollution amongst others”
“To avoid such unredeemable consequences, an effective maritime safety administration is highly necessary to attain and maintain
accepted standards”, the NIMASA DG noted.
He however commended the marine surveyors for sustaining the conduct of ship inspection/ survey in accordance with maritime safety standards as well
as the digitization of processes to promote sustainability, accountability and professionalism.
He noted the importance of the workshop which he said aligns with NIMASA’s  drive to actualize the maritime safety arm of the agency’s tripod-S management strategy (Maritime Safety, Security and Shipping Development) which is currently boosting the growth of the Nigerian maritime industry.
The NIMASA DG, therefore, assured the marine surveyors of the agency’s continued support to perform their duties effectively.
“I would like to mention that the current management will continually strive to build the required technical capacity to meet the Agency’s maritime regulatory obligations in order to make our waterways safe and devoid of pollutants from vessels.
He asked the surveyors to therefore take advantage of this opportunity by continually working with the agency’s Training Unit in
achieving this feat.
Meanwhile, the Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, Olu Aladenusi expressed hope that participating surveyors at the workshop will find the technical sessions highly valuable in implementing their port and flag state duties.
“I am also sure that the interactive sessions and shared experiences will be most rewarding as we continuously strive to improve Nigeria’s maritime safety regime.
Mr Shehu Ahmed, Executive Director, Marine Operations, disclosed that the technical forum of marine surveyors was last held in
July, 2021 during the COVID 19 era.
He noted that Nigeria as a nation accounts for a significant volume of domestic shipping activities and seaborne trade within the West African Region.
“Our nation is and has remained potentially a great maritime nation.
“The Nigerian maritime domain also has a lot of offshore activities via the operation of FPSOs, FSOs, FSUs and other specialized offshore vessels with some of these vessels currently ageing and operating beyond the design
life span.
“Surveyors must endeavour to have adequate regulatory frameworks for key maritime-related subject matters and
ensure they work within appropriate enabling laws and regulations.
“For effective Flag and Port State Control, relevant IMO Conventions must be ratified and an efficient Maritime Safety Administration capable of discharging its responsibilities as a Safety Administration is very pertinent.
“Presently, this dispensation has sustained the drive to domesticate all ratified conventions and the enabling Acts that empower us to regulate the maritime industry are currently in the National Assembly, which some of us are aware of.
“As a Safety Administration, we will continue to put structures in place to effectively regulate the maritime industry and also build capacity, digitize our processes and engage with our stakeholders
“The gains of this workshop to all delegates here will make a remarkable impact in our maritime safety domain and this
will usher us into a new era for socio-economic growth and development within the maritime sector” he declared.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Headlines

NIWA partners ICPC to strengthen internal transparency in its operations  

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has announced new strategies aimed at improving its operational system and enhancing collaboration with key stakeholders as part of efforts to boost efficiency and accountability.
Speaking at a post event Press Conference at NIWA Headquarters Lokoja, the Acting Managing Director, Umar Yusuf Girei, while answering questions from journalists stated that, the organization convened a two -day Executive and Anti-Corruption training with the theme “Strengthening Integrity and Revenue System in Inland Waterways Management” organized for Board Members, Management and Area Managers and also 2026 NIWA Management Retreat in Abuja.
The Acting MD noted as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,with the support  Adegboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Authority is focused on aligning institutional goals in ensuring better service delivery to Nigerians.
He further said, as part of its anti-corruption drive, the Management held discussions with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to explore measures for strengthening transparency within its operations.
Girei therefore, assured staff that the ongoing reforms under his watch would translate into improved service and better working conditions.
“NIWA remains committed to continuous improvement and stakeholder engagement and the reforms are expected to enhance both internal performance and public confidence”. he stated.
Continue Reading

Headlines

Navy appoints new Maritime Guard Commander for NIMASA 

Gloria Odion,  Maritime Reporter 

The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, has approved the appointment of Commodore Reginald Odeodi Adoki as the Commander of the Maritime Guard Command at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Commodore Adoki takes over from Commodore H.C Oriekeze who has been redeployed.

Commodore Adoki, a principal Warfare Officer specializing in communication and intelligence,  brings onboard 25 years experience in the Nigerian Navy covering training, staff and operations.

 As a seaman, he has commanded NNS Andoni, NNS Kyanwa and NNS Kada.
It was under his command that NNS Kada under took her maiden voyage, sailing from the country of build (the United Arab Emirates) into Nigeria.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy in 2000 with a BSc in Mathematics.
 He has since earned a Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos and an M.Sc in Terrorism, Security and Policing at University of Leicester, England.
He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Defence and Security Studies at the National Defence Academy (NDA).
He is a highly decorated officer with several medals for distinguished service.

Welcoming the new MGC Commander to the Agency, the Director General, Dr Dayo Mobereola, expressed confidence in Adoki’s addition to the team, emphasising that it will further strengthen the nation’s maritime security architecture given his vast experience in the industry.

The Maritime Guard Command domiciled in NIMASA was established as part of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Navy to assist NIMASA strengthen operational efficiency in Nigeria’s territorial waters, especially through enforcement of security, safety and other maritime regulations.

Continue Reading

Customs

Customs collects N1.585 trillion from 51 compliant traders under AEO programme 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), one of the trade facilitation tools introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2025, has begun to yield bountiful harvests with the revenue growth of ₦362.79 billion recorded in 2025.
According to the AEO scorecard released by the Service, the facilitation tool grossed the sum of N1.585 trillion after certification, an increase revenue from N1.222 trillion before certification.
This represents the growth of N362.79 billion(29.68 per cent) for 51 AEO – certified entities as at October, 2025.
The Programme, according to the NCS,  also contributed 21.77% to its total revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid rose by 85.66% due to enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.
According to AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the Programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.
“The evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“In the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75.60% time saving.
“Company operating costs declined by 57.2 per cent while demurrage payments dropped by 90 per cent, limiting capital flight to foreign-owned port service providers and strengthening foreign exchange retention.
” Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11 per  through digitalisation, simplified procedures, and targeted risk management” the Customs declared in the AEO scorecard.
However, the Service singled out with Eight companies for commendation due to their integrity and compliance under the programme.
The companies include Coleman Technical Industries Limited, WACOT Rice Limited, ROMSON Oil Field Services Ltd, WACOT Limited, Chi Farms Ltd, CORMART Nigeria Ltd, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
The Service lauded them for a cumulative voluntary remittance of over a billion naira into the Federation Account following their self-initiated transaction review and disclosure.
“These actions reflect the strengthening of post-clearance audit mechanisms and a growing culture of voluntary compliance within the trading community.
Nevertheless, the Service suspended a firm under the programme for its non- compliance and display of lack of integrity.
The suspended firm engaged in false declaration of consignments contrary to programme obligations.
“Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, directed the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in accordance with the AEO Guidelines, the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The NCS reiterated that the AEO Programme is founded on trust, transparency, and continuous compliance.
“While compliant operators will continue to benefit from expedited clearance and reduced inspection, appropriate sanctions will be applied where violations are established.
“The Service remains resolute in safeguarding national revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, and preserving the integrity and global credibility of Nigeria’s AEO framework” the NCS concluded in the report.
Continue Reading

Trending