..Stakeholders Question Delayed Deployment, Transparency*
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime industry are raising pressing questions about the whereabouts and management of the N50 billion Modular Floating Dock acquired by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Despite promises of relocation and utilization, the floating dock remains elusive, fueling concerns about transparency and accountability within the agency.
Since February, when NIMASA announced plans to move the dock to Continental Shipyard in Apapa, the deployment has yet to occur.
This delay has fueled skepticism among industry observers, who question NIMASA’s commitment to managing the multimillion-dollar asset effectively.
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The acquisition was initially celebrated as a significant boost to Nigeria’s maritime infrastructure, aimed at enhancing the country’s vessel maintenance and repair capabilities.
However, promises of deployment have been repeatedly unfulfilled, leading to accusations of underutilization and mismanagement.
Criticism has been directed at NIMASA’s leadership, particularly under former Director-General, Bashir Jamoh, for perceived lapses in strategic planning and execution.
Otunba Sola Adewumi, President of the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA), has called for accountability and transparency within NIMASA.
Dr. Chris Ebare, Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), emphasized the need for specialized expertise in overseeing projects like the Modular Floating Dock.
He suggested a reevaluation of NIMASA’s approach, advocating for dedicated professionals to manage the asset independently of the agency’s leadership.
Former National President of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers & Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Engr. Matthew Alalade, voiced concerns about NIMASA’s decision-making process, urging greater consultation with stakeholders and consideration of concessioning the dock to established shipyards.
Amidst these concerns, a staff of NIMASA who pleaded anonymity offered a critical perspective on the situation:
“The challenges we face with the floating dock can largely be attributed to the previous leadership’s reluctance to heed expert advice, which unfortunately has resulted in the asset becoming nearly outdated before being fully operational.”
The representative further stated that the new Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, is aware of the issues and committed to resolving them:
“Dr. Mobereola has been thoroughly briefed about the current status and complexities surrounding the floating dock.
He will be actively engaging with technical experts and stakeholders to expedite its deployment and ensure it operates at full capacity as swiftly as possible.” he said.
