After 30 years of operating in Nigeria’s capital city, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has finally secured a permanent office in Abuja. The commissioning of the new facility took place on Tuesday, headed by the Minister of Transportation, Muazu Sambo, alongside the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh.
Previously, NIMASA had operated from rented office space, but with the inauguration of their new office located in the central business district of Abuja, the Minister has called on staff to increase their productivity and justify the investment made in the new facility.
Sambo also explained that the new Abuja Zonal Office “serves as the nexus point between NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the National Assembly, all other relevant ministries, departments, and agencies”, as well as industry stakeholders such as the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
The importance of the new office extends beyond mere convenience, however. The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, stressed that the facility would reduce the cost of governance and maintain productivity, which would boost economic growth and development.
The Abuja Zonal Office takes on a pivotal role when it comes to NIMASA’s regulatory responsibilities on safety matters in the country’s inland waterways, as it oversees the operations of the Lokoja Safety Base.
In conclusion, the commissioning of the new office marks a milestone for NIMASA, which has long-awaited a permanent home in Abuja. The new facility is expected to boost productivity, enhance service delivery and serve as a hub for the country’s critical transportation stakeholders.
