Two sensitive facilities that are expected to boost revenue generation, and maritime regulation as well as help generate a policy for the industry were unveiled in Port Harcourt Sunday, May 28, 2023.
The facilities are the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and the New Port Harcourt Zonal Headquarters of NIMASA.
These were unveiled by the management of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA) led by the Director-General, Bashir Jamoh, with the support of the Federal Ministry of Transportation.
The cutting of the tapes was done by the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo; who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Magdalene N. Ajani. Others who lent their support were the Acting Board Chairman of NIMASA, Ahmed Abubakar; Port Services Director, Onne, Yusuf Barde; Director of the Centre, the Professor, Osai Akpogemi; and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) University of Port Harcourt, the professor, Clifford Obiyo Ofurum.
Jamoh said the Logistics Centre in the Uniport is expected to produce workers that would lead Nigeria’s maritime to global levels. About the new world-class NIMASA zonal headquarters named after a maritime giant, Magdalene Onyema Orakwusi, the DG said it is expected to double revenue from the south-south and that the workers have no further excuse.
He said it was said that the workers worked out of a zonal office that was fit for productive activities.
Jamoh said two bullet-proof buses were on the way to PH to help the workers enforce the regulation, track offenders, collect revenue from oil lifting activities, and do far better than before.
Earlier at the UNIPORT, the DG said the project is part of the education development scheme of NIMASA.
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“In 2018 when I was doing my doctorate degree in the Uniport, under the able supervision of the man who today is Director of the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies, Prof Osai Akpogemi, I was supported to identifying causes of maritime insecurity in Nigeria, and this study lasted for two years.
“We saw greed, poverty, poor governance, poor human capital capacity, etc, as the main factors.”
He told a story to show how greed is one of the most dangerous factors the insecurity in the land and the sector.
He said these bad actions lead to maritime insecurity. He also said training is critical because that is one of the best ways to confront insecurity.
“Education and training are key to anything else government wants. The maritime industry is in disarray but we have gone far to install stability. We have engineered policy management and policies that can move the maritime industry to global levels, and these policies will help the youth contribute to the growth of the economy.
“We have just handed over 11 vessels (Platforms) to fight infrastructure decay. This centre is to address youth menace. The Honourable Minister (as represented) is here to commission the centre that will produce workers that will lead the industry.’
He said the centre would help to generate policies and policy advice for the FG.
“The Ministry, the FG, the Rivers State government, etc played very important roles to see to this outcome. President Muhammadu Buhari approved the plan and the budget. We worked closely with the vice-chancellor. This is the second university in rating in Nigeria and the first in the south-south.”
The minister’s representative, Magdalene Ajani, said the centre in the Uniport would be furnished to standards to enable the students to function effectively.
At the new headquarters, she urged the workers to maintain the facility.
