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From Idu Jude Abuja
The Federal Government, has said that the National Assembly’s halting of the payment of caboutage fund to indegenous companies, is to carryout it’s oversight functions to ensure justice and equity. This it said, would also ensure good accountability in discharge of it’s duties at all levels.
The Minister of transportation, Mu’azu Sambo disclosed this Tuesday, in Abuja while commissioning an ultra modern zonal office complex named after Late Otunba Olayinka Folarin, former NIMASA boss.
According to the Minister, it would be lawful for all involved to tarry till the outcome of National Assembly inquiries into the funding.
The Minister said, “the National Assembly, has the duty to access all funding approved by government with it’s rigorous processes.. You see there is no way you procure anything without accounting for it. It is always made known for the public consumption and when all agreed that this is all they have in the volume of income then it will be disbursed without problems. So this also how it goes when awarding contracts to companies.
The Minister further, explained that what the national Assembly is venturing is not to basically investigate the account of NIMASA but carrying out its oversight functions , which is it’s constitutional duty. “What we are just doing as far as caboutage funding is concerned is to ensure that we achieve what previous government could not achieve for 17 years. So for they to ask questions on how much was generated is not out of place”.
Speaking on the new zonal office commissioning, the Minister, said that government in it’s duty to enshrine economic reineicence, that exploring huge opportunities in the maritime industry cannot be over emphasized.
The Minister, said however, that for Nigeria to achieve this, there is the need for government to put in place features that would yeild quantifiable dividends in the years to come.
“As we plan to commission all the outstanding projects executed by NIMASA, what should be of paramount is the intention, the focus and as I am about to commission the zonal office, and at the same time people may raise question why NIMASA is having an edifice in Abuja.”
But we remind you that Abuja does not have waters but I assure you that this office is not for another bureaucratic justifications but functions that NIMASA office plays in discharge of it’s duties. I can tell you that the Abuja office is a nexus point between NiMASA and Ministry of transportation, the National Assembly and Other relevant MDAs. As well as other critical agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria, the ministry of Defense and other stakeholders in the industry “
He further, said that the zonal office is a direct link with Lokoja naval base, thereby playing pivotal role in the safety and survival of Nigerian water ways.
While speaking earlier, the Director General/ CEO of NIMASA Dr. Ibrahim Jamoh, in his opening speech, advised that Government agencies operating from rented apartments are drain pipes. This he said, while narrating the ordeals of the agency in the hand of Abuja landlords, which prompted the immediate move to set up the building through the efforts of the Honourable Minister and the National Assembly.
Dr. Jamoh, further said, “ it is gratifying that this project we are commissioning today, which started just four months ago due to the quit notice issued to us by the landlord who have always busied my number for an eviction”.
The NIMASA DG, noted that the project wouldn’t have been made possible if not for the efforts of President Mohammadu Buhari, the FEC and the National Assembly members. He said that the Port Harcourt office would also be commissioned next week with that of calabar and Lokoja coming after wards.
Also speaking during the occasion, the Chairman of House committee on water transportation Mrs Linda Chuba Ikpazu appreciated the work and leadership being demonstrated by the NIMASA DG. She further noted that the Jamoh’s leadership has brought sanity in the Gulf of guinea with the piracy activities cubed to its lowest ebb.
The law maker, did not stop without admonishing the staffs whom she called upon to ensure maximum utilization of the facilities, noting that “ to whom much was given that much is expected”.
