NIMASA Gives Excuses For DG’s Failure To Appear Before NASS

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dakuku Peterside has explained the reason he was not present before a National Assembly joint committee in Abuja on Tuesday.
The National Assembly joint committee which is investigating activities of foreign vessel owners in the country on Tuesday walked out the representatives of NIMASA from a public hearing because Peterside failed to honour the rescheduled meeting.
But yesterday, the agency’s Head of Public Relations, Isichei Osamgbi said Peterside was unable to appear before the NASS committee as he was in Lagos, leading other management staff of the agency to receive members of the House Committee on Maritime Safety Education and Administration who were on an oversight visit.
Osamgbi said, “The DG could not personally be in Abuja to honour the invitation by the NASS joint committee investigating activities of foreign vessel owners in the country due to the clash of both events.
“NIMASA management communicated same to the National Assembly joint committee,  requesting for a change of date.
“However, a member of the executive management, the Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, Mr Gambo Ahmed,  led the high powered team to represent the agency.”
But the Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Contents,  Senator Teslim Folarin,  and his colleague in the House of Representatives, Legor Idagbo lamented the decision of Peterside to shun the invitation despite several reminders.