… harps on collaboration
… as NIMASA eyes partnership on ship building
The government of Norway has commended Nigeria’s commanding role in tackling piracy in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
This is just as it announced that it will continue to collaborate with the Nigerian Maritime Industry by rendering economic assistance through multi-level structures and capacity building.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, of the Scandinavian county endorsed as the 5th largest ship building nation, Anniken Huitfeldt, assured of these during a working visit to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), on Monday.
She said Nigeria’s dedication to safety and security has curbed piracy in the region tremendously.
Huitfeldt who had a tour of NIMASA’s security facilities at different locations in Lagos said Norwegian ship owners saw Nigeria as playing key role in improving maritime safety not just in the country and sub-region but on the whole African continent.
She said: “I thank the Nigerian government and NIMASA for their dedication to the safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea.
“I am deeply mpressed by what I saw on my visit to NIMASA.”
She added that Nigeria is one of the respected partners of Norway, hence, its role in the Gulf of Guinea is appreciated.
According to her, Norway has given support to Nigeria in the fight against piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.
The Foreign Affairs Minister 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.
In his remarks, Director General, Department for Regional Affairs, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatiing the Norwegian ship owners, Mr. Vebjorn Dysvik, commended Nigeria for its leadership role in the sub-region.
Dysvik, who disclosed that their ship owners currently paraded about 1,700 vessels, expressed optimism that the positive maritime achievements recorded by Nigeria would continue.
The Director General of NIMASA, Doctor Bashir Jamoh, conducted the Norwegian Minister and his team around the facilities at the NIMASA’S Resources Centre, ensuring a practical demonstration of the quality of safety equipment at the C4i centre.
Thereafter, Jamoh lectured the guests on the functions, duties and responsibilities of NIMASA as a leading maritime administration in West Africa.
He disclosed 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 neighbouring countries of Togo, Ghana and the Republic of Benin for drydocking and ship repair.
However, the NIMASA boss announced that the Agency’s 50 million floating Dock, when finally deployed, will generate a whooping sum of N1 billion monthly.
He informed the guests that the Agency was ready to partner the country to exploit the huge market in Nigeria’s ship repairs industry.
“Over 110, 000vessels come to Nigeria annually but because of lack of ship repairs industry in the country, some of the ship owners have to move their ships to Togo, Ghana and the Republic of Benin to repair their ships.
“There is a huge demand for ship repairs in the country.
“NIMASA welcomes partnership with Norway to exploit and develop shipbuilding and ship repairs industry in the country ” Jamoh disclosed.
He pledged to ensure safety of vessels and seafarers that ply the nation’s waters and by extension the Gulf of Guinea with its deep blue asset for combating maritime crimes.