The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has implored the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to always consider the Nigerian flag as first option for its vessels to enhance Nigerian’s tonnage and attract more respect for the flag globally.
Director General, NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh, made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the Management of the NLNG led by its Managing Director, Dr Philip Mshelbila, to NIMASA Headquarters in Lagos, Friday.
Jamoh noted that the Agency needs the NLNG to boost the Nations Tonnage.
“NIMASA needs the NLNG, we desire to have Vessels of the NLNG fly the Nigerian Flag. Just imagine that Vessels of the NLNG are on the Nigerian Registry, our tonnage will increase exponentially. The Nigerian Flag will earn much more respect globally and we will get better recognition”, he stated.
Meanwhile, the Management of the NIMASA and that of NLNG, have agreed to set up a working committee meeting regularly to ensure improved liaison between both organization in the interest of Nigeria.
Jamoh noted that a better working relationship between NIMASA and the NLNG would greatly enhance operations in the maritime sector of the country.
He assured the NLNG Management that NIMASA would extend the already existing working relationship the Agency has with the NLNG Ship Management Limited (NSML) to the parent body.
According to him, “This is a new beginning; our focus should be what is best for Nigeria and not just for the NLNG or NIMASA”.
While commending the NLNG for providing platforms for Sea time to train Nigerian Seafarers, the NIMASA DG noted that the Agency is committed to attaining best global practice, so that Certificates issued by Nigeria will be recognized globally.
“We are working to ensure that the Certificates of Competency issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration are of international standard. This will make it easy for the NLNG and other international organizations to accept them”, he said.
On his part, the Managing Director of NLNG, Dr Philip Mshelbila, noted that the management of the NLNG is committed to the deliberate indigenization of the human component of its operation, adding that the company is ready to partner NIMASA to enhance safety and security of lives and assets in the Nigerian maritime domain.
He noted that NLNG is on the same page with NIMASA in terms of capacity development and the quest to ensure Nigeria attains internationally acceptable standards in her operations in the maritime sector.
“We at NLNG have realized that for us to fulfill one of our key vision elements, which is helping to build a better Nigeria, it is important for us to work with all our stakeholders including NIMASA.
“We are aware that NIMASA and our subsidiary, NMSL, are working hand-in-hand for the progress of this country and we desire that same spirit of partnership and collaboration should be extended to the NLNG”, he stated.
He expressed appreciation to NIMASA for the active management of the activities in the Gulf of Guinea.
“We can certainly testify from the report that we get both locally and from international bodies that there has been a huge success in the war against criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea and we know that the Deep Blue Project is instrumental in attaining this success”, he concluded.