Determined to deepen the cooperation between the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla today paid a working visit to the Agency to achieve sustainable security in the Nigerian maritime domain.
Vice Admiral Ogalla in his during the visit, commended NIMASA’s efforts in implementing both national and international regulatory frameworks for improved safety and security in the maritime domain pledged the commitment of the Nigerian Navy under his leadership towards supporting NIMASA to succeed.
“I want to appreciate NIMASA for the collaboration with the Nigerian Navy which is to achieve a common goal of better securing the Nigerian maritime domain, thus promoting an enabling environment for business to thrive with a multiplier effect of improved contributions to the Gross Domestic Product from the maritime industry. Our role as prescribed by the Armed Forces Act is for the Navy to coordinate the enforcement of all maritime laws associated with Nigeria. We will support you at NIMASA to succeed”. He said.
Vice Admiral Ogalla also commended the Agency’s implantation of the Cabotage Act and the C4i center of the Deep Blue Project.
“I acknowledge the efforts of NIMASA in the implementation of the Cabotage Law for the benefit of indigenous players in the industry. We will also improve our support so the Cabotage regime can succeed. The NIMASA C4i center, which is a maritime domain awareness facility, is useful to the Nigerian Armed Forces including the Nigerian Police. I will visit the facility today and our focus is better cooperation and information sharing”. He said
Responding, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola acknowledged the role the Nigerian Navy has played over the years in supporting NIMASA to implement her mandates.
He used the opportunity to assure the Naval Chief of the continuous support of the Agency, which he maintained will be to the overall benefit of the country. He also assured the Vice Admiral Ogalla that the Agency would look into more areas of partnership with the Navy, as well as explore the possibility of reviewing the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Navy and NIMASA.
“Your visit today l personally to NIMASA is a confirmation of your commitment to the NIMASA/Nigerian Navy collaboration. I must acknowledge the role of the Nigerian Navy in the NIMASA journey so far. Nigeria’s attainment of zero piracy report in recent times is a result of the support of the Navy. Security is key to unlocking the nation’s maritime potentials, as a well-secured maritime domain will be a catalyst to attract foreign investment into Nigeria. On the MoU, we are with you in reviewing it and making it more effective taking into consideration the reality on ground. We want to sustain our zero piracy status”, the NIMASA DG said.
The NIMASA boss equally hailed the recent addition of 20 nautical miles to Nigeria’s Exclusive Economic zone, stating that it calls for more responsibility for both the Navy and the Agency.