Jonathan reappoints Akpobolokemi as NIMASA DG

President Goodluck Jonathan has reappointed Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, current director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), for a another term of four years.

The reappointment, which was conveyed in a letter dated October 13, 2014 and signed by Anyim Pius Anyim, secretary to the government of the federation, will become effective December 23, 2014.

According to a press statement signed by Isichei Osamgbi, deputy director, public relations unit of NIMASA and sent to BusinessDay, Akpobolokemi’s reappointment can be acclaimed as recognition of his outstanding performance as the helmsman of NIMASA in the past four years.

The statement hinted that in his first term, Akpobolokemi through improved maritime safety and security repositioned the maritime sector and created an enabling environment for maritime business to contribute greatly to the growth of the nation’s economy.

“NIMASA under Akpobolokemi achieved full maritime domain awareness through enhanced surveillance of the maritime environment with the introduction of a satellite surveillance system which covers the entire Gulf of Guinea. The agency has also procured various platforms through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for round-the-clock monitoring of the Nigerian maritime domain with the help of Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force,” the statement said.

It further disclosed that NIMASA through the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code has successfully ensured safe and secure port facilities in the country.

Under Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), designed to grow capacity to fill the existing manpower gap in the maritime sector, NIMASA has sponsored over 2,500 Nigerian youths to training in recognised maritime universities in the United Kingdom, Philippines, India, Egypt, Romania and Malaysia.

“The capacity building initiative of Akpobolokemi’s leadership has also resulted in the setting up of Institutes of Maritime Studies in the University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State and Niger Delta University, Amasoma, Bayelsa State as a way of boosting manpower training in the long run.