The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Customs Service have agreed on modalities for seamless and timely delivery of the Deep Blue Project assets currently at the ports.
The agreement was reached in a meeting between the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, and Comptroller General of NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd.), in Abuja, last Thursday.
According to Jamoh, “because of the peculiarities of the urgent need of these assets, there is a need to find a common ground that would assist in the full deployment of these assets”.
While appreciating the customs boss for the efforts in clearing the Deep Blue Project assets still at the ports, Dr. Jamoh urged the customs to share information and capacity with NIMASA to ensure successful implementation of the Deep Blue Project.
The NIMASA DG also raised the issue of the Modular Floating Dock, which he described as a public asset to be managed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
A statement signed by the Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA, Osagie Edward, quoted Jamoh as saying that, “The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is fully involved in the process to select a management partner for the Modular Floating Dockyard. 
“We urge the Nigerian Customs to see and treat the asset as a national asset that should enjoy some concession in terms of duties”.
“When it becomes operational, hundreds of direct jobs will be created and thousands of indirect employment will also be created”.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, has approved the appointment of three new port managers.
This is in a bid to engender operational efficiency and make NPA the maritime hub of Africa.
The new appointees are Yitnoe Stanley Magaji, former Technical Assistant Managing Director, Marine and Operations, now as Port Manager, Onne; Buba Jibril, former Traffic Manager, LPC appointed as the Port Manager, Tin Can Island Port, and Ovbude Nelson Uwaifo, former Traffic Manager, Dangote Jetty, now as  Port Manager, Calabar.
The erstwhile Port Manager, Tincan Island Port , Engr. Yunusi Ibrahim Anji, moves to corporate headquarters as Assistant General Manager, Port Engineering, while Dantsoho M Abubakar, former Port Manager, Onne now becomes Technical Assistant Managing Director, Special Duties.
Leoso Akintunde Oladipo, Principal Manager Traffic LPC, assumes duty as Traffic Manager, Lagos Port Complex, while Aliyu Abubakar, Principal Manager, Traffic Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, takes over as Traffic Manager, Dangote Jetty, Lekki.
The appointments, according to a statement by the NPA, take immediate effect.

By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos