…As NIMASA records peaceful transition
By Kenneth Jukpor
In what was a historic event and one of the most peaceful handover ceremonies at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the immediate past Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the agency, Dr. Bashir Jamoh took over as Director General as the four year administation of Dr. Dakuku Peterside elapsed.
Three new Executive Directors were also appointed by President Mohammadu Buhari, comprising Chudi Ofodile in charge of Finance and Administration, Victor Ochei for Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services and Shehu Ahmed for Operations to replace the outgone Jamoh, Gambo Ahmed and Rotimi Fashaki as well as the appointment of a new Chairman of the Governing Board of the agency, Okorie Azita, who replaces Gen. Jonathan Garba rtd.
Speaking shortly after the handover ceremony where all the directors and other top members of the executive management were in attendance, Jamoh extolled the leadership qualities of Peterside and pledged to continue with the reform programmes initiated by the outgoing executive management, which he was also part of.
In an emotion-laden speech, Jamoh, who has spent over twenty-five years at the agency and risen to the position of an Assistant Director before his appointment as Executive Director and now Director General, disclosed that his predecessor Dr. Dakuku demonstrated more passion, energy and zeal than the over ten CEOs of the agency he has withnessed.
Jamoh described the out-going Director General as a visionary leader, strategist, teacher and team player, noting that in the last four years Dakuku instituted various reforms and new ways of doing things at the agency, especially his knowledge transfer scheme, which has boosted the capacity of young professionals in the agency to handle tough and challenging task.
“It is a very difficult task for me to say goodbye to a former boss, who had been a mentor, a teacher and a friend. But such is life, and I believe that it is not an accident and so God has designed it that way. We thank God that Peterside had successful four-year tenure, many other past CEOs of the agency were not that lucky. But with will continue in the footsteps that he has left behind in terms of the reforms and policy director that will take the nation’s maritime industry.
“We also sincerely appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for finding us worthy of this assignment, we will not let him and we will do our best towards growing the maritime industry from where the outgoing executive management left it. Today is not a long speech making day but we will engage the stakeholders at the appropriate time”, he assured.
Earlier, Dakuku listed some of the achievements recorded by the executive management under his supervision to include changing the poor global perception of the agency, re-orientating the disillusioned members of staff, automation of the processes of the agency, which was before analogue as well as institutionalising promotion of staffers as a way of boosting their morale, saying that many had been on the same position in the last 15 years.
He thanked President Buhari and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi for their support and belief in him, noting that he had no regret serving the Nigerian public as Director General of NIMASA.
