—as Amaechi believes initiative will open maritime for Investments

Eyewitness reporter

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Friday flagged off the first phase of the National Wreck Removal Exercise that signals the beginning of the process of ridding Nigerian waters of over 3000 identified wrecks and derelicts.

An obviously impressed Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, who led other dignitaries to grace the official flag-off ceremony in Lagos, said the exercise will open up the maritime Industry to huge Investment opportunities.

He, therefore, lauded the initiative of the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, whom he said mooted the idea of clearing the wrecks from Nigerian waters.

“This creative venture of clearing our waters of wrecks and derelicts, apart from guaranteeing better safety of navigation, opens up the prospects of many new investments in the maritime industry.

“This would tremendously help the Federal Government’s economic diversification drive and enhance Nigeria’s standing within the global maritime community.”

“It was the NIMASA DG’s idea that we should remove wrecks from our waters,” Amaechi added.

The Minister stressed the autonomous status of each of the agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transportation, stating that all the heads of the agencies are appointed on the basis of competence and expertise. He said he would always support imaginative ideas from the Chief Executives.

In his own speech, Jamoh said the successful removal of the wrecks and derelicts would restore confidence in Nigerian waters, and eliminate obstacles to smooth, safe, and profitable navigation. He thanked the Minister for pushing the wreck removal idea through the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Jamoh said the commencement of the wreck removal exercise was another milestone in the incremental achievement of the Triple S strategy of the current Management of NIMASA, anchored on Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Shipping Development.The Director-General stated, “These wrecks inhibit the operation of shipping companies, which constantly strive to increase efficiency in order to remain in business.

“As a result, most of the shipping companies usually avoid operating or investing in areas where navigational hazards are identified due to high insurance premium charges.”

He said with the elimination or reduction of the costs associated with insurance, survey and charting of wrecks, the cost of shipping would drop, to the benefit of mariners and other stakeholders in the maritime industry.

Jamoh also discussed other benefits of the wreck removal exercise.

He said, “It is pertinent to state that the benefits that would be derived upon completion of the exercise extend to other areas of maritime core functions, such as search and rescue services, Cabotage monitoring, as well as prevention and mitigation of marine pollution.”

NIMASA is charged with the responsibility of ensuring safety and security at sea as well as regulating the maritime industry in line with international laws and conventions, principally, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

“In line with this mandate and in recognition of the importance of the safety of navigation in Maritime Administration, the Agency has established the need for removal of critical wrecks along the Badagry Creek,” the Director-General said.

Jamoh had disclosed during a Ministerial Retreat organised by the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) in August that arrangements had been concluded for the recycling of wrecks and derelicts that would be recovered during the wreck removal exercise.

 He said this would be done in partnership with the Bayelsa State Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), which already has a Foundry in Lagos for wrecks recycling, with the ultimate aim of creating wealth from waste while providing jobs for Nigerians.

The first phase of the wreck removal exercise took place along Badagry Creek.

The wreck removal exercise was kicked off following the approval granted to NIMASA  by the Federal executive council as a result of the memo presented to the council by Amaechi.

Among those in attendance were Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Koko; Managing Director of Ragi Industries Limited, Nasir Raji; President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. MkGeorge Onyung. Others were Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NIMASA, Hon. Chudi Offodile; Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Shehu Ahmed; and Executibe Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr. Victor Ochei.