By Chinyere Aruogu
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside has said that to achieve the Agency’s vision of becoming the leading maritime administration in Africa advancing Nigeria’s global maritime goals, it is important that there is no disconnect between policy formulation and policy implementation.
He was speaking at the opening of a strategy retreat for members of the Board of NIMASA holding in Calabar, Cross River State from November 21 -23, 2016.
Describing the Board as the bridge between policy formulation and policy implementation, the NIMASA DG expressed gratitude that the Board was peopled by individuals with proven integrity and a commitment to the service of the nation who will support the re-invention of NIMASA.
Peterside said:, “The Governing Board of this Agency as the bridge between policy making and policy implementation is most suited to drive this process of NIMASA and maritime industry self -reinvention. We are privileged that the supervising ministry and the President of our country have absolute confidence in the Board and its ability to help Management achieve the much-desired ‘acceleration’ NIMASA and the industry needs.”
He observed that the strategy retreat is aimed at serving as a melting pot of ideas between the Board and the Management of the Agency with the objective of making NIMASA the most efficient, effective and responsive regulatory institution in Nigeria, that contributes in diverse ways to the economic growth of the country.
To achieve this, the DG said that information flow must be seamless. “We must do all that is necessary to eliminate poor communication flow. Both Board and Management must always have their eyes on the big picture and not allow distractions clothed in short term pecuniary benefits.”
While highlighting the strategic importance of marine transportation to Nigeria’s economy, Peterside emphasised that marine transportation depends on enforcement of laws, rules, conventions and regulations to guarantee safe, secure and environmentally responsible shipping.
“It is thus our fate that our Agency, NIMASA must be an accelerator rather than a brake, in this economic engine. To this end, the Governing Board of NIMASA, Management of the Agency, industry stakeholders, our partners in the military services, other collaborating Federal Agencies, international regulators, and our supervising ministry (Ministry of Transportation) should work collaboratively to optimize marine transportation and lead the development of indigenous commercial shipping, which is our mandate” the DG averred.
He commended the resource persons at the retreat who he said will assist members of the Board in understanding more deeply, the industry they have been called to give direction at this time of national economic challenge.
Meanwhile, Peterside is to deliver this year’s University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) Distinguished Persons Annual Lecture of the Faculty of Management.
He is expected to speak on the topic; Connected Vision: Building Blocks of a New Nigeria, at the UNN Enugu Campus on Friday, November 25 which will have in attendance the academia, strategic managers, maritime experts, business students and members of the public.
A statement from the University notes that the lecture is an annual academic event that provides an opportunity for outstanding persons in government positions to appraise and update the academia and the public of the vision, mission and achievements in the national assignments under their charge.
Peterside will be sharing his thoughts on national re-invention and what the nation needs to do to attain greatness harping on the maritime industry as a significant enabler to the Federal Government’s economic diversification programme.
Since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, Peterside has brought a new narrative to NIMASA, effectively repositioning it for greater effectiveness and efficiency, according to NIMASA spokesperson, Lami Tumaka.
She said: “Under his watch, NIMASA has started fulfilling its mandate of administering Maritime Safety Standards and Security, Maritime Labour, Promotion of Commercial Shipping, enforcement of Cabotage Act, Pollution Prevention and Control in the marine environment, among others.
“In the letter of invitation, the University describes Peterside as “a management guru, a brain buried in books, an extra-ordinarily well-trained Nigerian, a rare gem yet simple and easy going but with ‘a promise’ to the Nation.”
“Over the years, the lecture series has attracted eminent Nigerians including His Majesty, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, the Emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank; Chief Osita Chidoka, former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps and former Minister of Aviation, among others.”