The Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside and Professor Ndowa Lale, Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) have averred that a robust integrated transportation is crucial to Nigeria’s economic development.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, Rivers State at the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Centre for Logistics and Transport Studies (CELTRAS) of the University of Port Harcourt, Dakuku and Lale agreed that a well-coordinated and integrated transport system is an enabler for movement of goods and services efficiently and effectively, which is vital to achieving economic growth and diversification.
Dr. Dakuku noted that “A well-coordinated and integrated transport system is an enabler for movement of goods and services to create time, place and possession utilities; and these are key to economic diversification, which is one of the prime components of the change agenda of the present administration. The dexterity and commitment to advancing the course of transport, logistics and supply chain through research in this Centre would empower people with requisites skills and opportunities, thus bridging the dearth of knowledge in the maritime sector”.
Dr. Dakuku equally noted that transportation was a critical infrastructure needed to complement and support government programmes and activities geared towards fulfilling the change agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.
Corroborating the NIMASA DG’s statement, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Professor Ndowa Lale noted that the importance of the transport sector to the economy cannot be overstated; hence the need for continuous collaboration amongst industry stakeholders is pertinent.
Inaugurating the Governing Board of the Centre for Logistics and Transport (CELTRAS), with the DG NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku as Chairman, the Vice Chancellor charged them with the responsibilities of identifying and developing strategies for the growth and development of the centre and also developing effective and mutual beneficial relationship with the government and industry players, to contribute to policies that will lead to a robust integrated transport sector to grow the economy.
The new Board, which consists of members of the academia as well as public and private sector industry practitioners, to be led by Dr. Dakuku Peterside the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside has eminent personalities as Board members, amongst whom are Mallam Ibrahim A. Jibril, Mrs. Lizzie O. Ovbude, Professor Henry Alapiki, Anthonia Okerengwo, Dr. Austine Odili, Mrs. Gladys Emenike, Dr. ACM Kayode Olagunju, Professor Kinikanwo Anele, Mr. Solomon Maram Ishaya, Mr. Aminu Yusuf, Mr. Ekpenyong E. Eke, and Engr. Enya Antioch.
The UNIPORT Vice Chancellor, further charged members of the Board to bring their vast experience to bear in the running of the Centre, stated that the advent of the new Board would also consolidate on the achievements of the Centre and steer it to deliver on its vision. He added that he was particularly glad that a resource of Dakuku’s calibre was called to serve the University, thus giving him the optimism that the dispensation of the new Board would be a success.
“The aim of the Centre includes a strong desire to impact solid intellectual theoretical, methodological foundations and skills on our students and faculty. This would position them to work competitively in varied Logistics and Transport Planning and management positions in public and private sector to grow the economy of our nation. I have no doubt therefore, that as thorough professionals you are all well-grounded to make the Centre a place where excellence is the watchword”, Professor Lale said.
In his acceptance speech, the NIMASA DG pledged the support of all the members of the Board to the development of the centre and assured that they will not fail in delivering their mandate.
According to Dr. Dakuku, “as it was part of the Centre’s activities to engage in creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, my team and i would always be favourably disposed to giving our time, skills and all available resources to ensure the sector’s attainment of a remarkable impact via the Centre by making it a reference point in the whole of Africa”.
Meanwhile, in a related development NIMASA has received wide commendations from industry players and stakeholders in the maritime sector on wreck removal.
Speaking in Lagos recently, Dr. Asoluka, a former Chairman of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), noted that the efforts of the Dr. Dakuku Peterside led Management of NIMASA to reposition the maritime sector is a development long overdue.
He was of the view that the Agency’s initiative which is reported to have commenced should be pursued vigorously, confident that the process of wreck removal will no doubt have a positive impact on the global perception of Nigeria’s waters.
According to Dr. Asoluka who stated that abandoned wrecks pose danger to navigation and safety of lives and properties on the nation’s territorial ways, he called on owners of abandoned wrecks to co-operate with the Management of NIMASA by removing them promptly, in order to ensure a safe and secured maritime environment.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside had earlier stated that the Agency is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Transportation to review the process of wreck removal on the nation’s territorial waterways, especially the ones on the channels, as they pose great danger in our waterways.
He noted that a marine notice had been issued by the Agency to that effect and anyone who refuses to comply with the notice will have his or her wrecks removed forcefully and might also face litigation. This is in line with the Agency’s enabling Act and international protocol on wrecks removal.
“The Nairobi convention provides for the process via which a ship can be declared a wreck; NIMASA as a law abiding Agency had been following the law diligently and we will continue to do so”, the DG assured.
Dr. Peterside also used the opportunity to assure Stakeholders of the Agency’s resolve to continue to improve the maritime sector for better performances in line with international best practices.
