…As NIMASA DG seeks partnership in shipbuilding and repairs
Nigeria has been praised for her commanding role in the Gulf of Guinea which has resulted in tremendous success in curtailing the pirate activities in the region.
Giving the commendation in Lagos on Monday during her visit to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Anniken Huitfeldt, stated that the relative peace and security the shipping community being enjoyed in the Gulf of Guinea is to a large extent due to the dedication and commitment of Nigeria to the safety and security in the troubled region.
Huitfeldt seized the opportunity to send the appreciation of the Norwegian government to Nigeria in general and NIMASA in particular for this feat.
In her words: “I thank the Nigerian government and NIMASA for their dedication to the safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“I am deeply impressed by what I saw on my visit to NIMASA.”
According to the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Nigeria is one of the respected partners of Norway which her country appreciates its role in the Gulf of Guinea.
She stressed that safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea are very dear to her country and as a result, Norway has given support to Nigeria in the fight against piracy in the region.
Huitfeldt added that Norway has contributed to maritime development in Nigeria through capacity training and has also rendered economic assistance through the United Nations towards enhancement of maritime safety.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, conducted the Norwegian minister and her entourage round the facilities at the NIMASA Maritime Resource Centre where they were shown a practical demonstration of the quality of safety equipment at the C4i centre.
Dr. Jamoh also lectured his guests on the functions, duties and responsibilities of the agency as a leading maritime administration in West Africa.
He remarked that Nigeria, as a leading maritime nation in the West African sub-region, hosts over 110,000 vessels annually but unfortunately, due to a lack of viable shipbuilding and repairs industry in the country, most of the ship owners move their vessels to other neighboring countries of Togo, Ghana and the Republic of Benin for drydocking and ship repairs.
However, he was optimistic that the Agency’s $50 million floating Dock, when finally deployed, will generate a whooping sum of N1 billion monthly.
The NIMASA boss expressed his agency’s desire to partner with the European country to exploit the huge market in Nigeria’s ship repairs industry.
He reiterated that there is a huge demand for ship repairs in the country and enjoined Norway to exploit and develop shipbuilding and ship repairs industry in the country in partnership with NIMASA.
The Norwegian minister’s entourage include some ship owners who are expected to look into business and investment opportunities in Nigeria’s vast maritime industry.
Norway is the 5th largest shipbuilding nation in the world with 89 seaports.