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By Steve Agbota
The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA and the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, have agreed to set up a working Committee meeting regularly to ensure improved liaison between both organisation in the interest of Nigeria.
This agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by the Management of the NLNG led by the Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila to NIMASA.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, noted that a better working relationship between NIMASA and the NLNG would greatly enhance operations in the maritime sector of the country. He assured the NLNG management that NIMASA would extend the already existing working relationship the Agency has with the NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) to the parent body, while also urging NLNG to consider the Nigerian Flag as first option for her vessels.
According to him, “This is a new beginning; our focus should be what is best for Nigeria and not just for the NLNG or NIMASA.”
While commending the NLNG for providing platforms for Sea time to train Nigerian Seafarers, the NIMASA DG noted that the Agency is committed to attaining best global practice, so that Certificates issued by Nigeria will be recognized globally.
Jamoh said that the Agency needs the NLNG to boost the Nations Tonnage. “NIMASA needs the NLNG, we desire to have Vessels of the NLNG fly the Nigerian Flag, just imagine that Vessels of the NLNG are on the Nigerian Registry, our tonnage will increase exponentially, the Nigerian Flag will earn much more respect globally and we will get better recognition”, he said.
For his part, the Managing Director of NLNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila, noted that the management of the NLNG is committed to the deliberate indigenisation of the human component of its operation adding that they are ready to partner NIMASA to enhance safety and security of lives and assets in the Nigerian maritime domain.
He noted that they are on the same page with NIMASA in terms of capacity development and the quest to ensure Nigeria attains internationally acceptable standards in her operations in the maritime sector.
