NIMASA boss assures stevedores of support

THE Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Baba Jauro has assured Stevedoring companies of a quick resolution to some of the issues challenging their operations in the ports.

The DG stated this when he played host to the Executive Committee of the National Association of Stevedoring Companies led by its National President, Bolaji Sunmola at the headquarters of the agency in Lagos.

Jauro who observed that the Federal Government has gazetted a new set of guidelines for stevedoring operations in the sector noted that its enforcement would commence in earnest after due sensitisation of relevant stakeholders with the provisions.

“I can assure you that the guidelines we have put in place, which also have applicable sanctions will address all the issues you have raised and we are committed to enforcing all its provisions once we have sensitised all relevant stakeholders,” the DG said.

The DG also said that the agency would continue to engage its sister agencies with a view to resolving all outstanding issues for the benefit of the maritime sector and the country at large.

Earlier in his address, the President of the association, Sunmola noted that the association in line with its 2014 regulation was prepared to collaborate with the agency in the areas of human capacity development, which was intended to help in the areas of job creation in the maritime sector.

He expressed the displeasure of the association on how its rights and privileges were trampled upon by some government agencies and called on the agency to step into the situation to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the nation’s ports.

It will be recalled that a new set of ministerial guidelines for the appointment and operations of stevedoring services at the jetties and terminals was formally presented to stakeholders in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital during this year’s celebration of the Day of the Seafarer.

The guidelines, which were developed pursuant to relevant sections of the NIMASA Act and the Nigerian Ports Authority Act, are aimed at addressing the appointment of stevedoring companies, inspection and enforcement, application fees, charges and dues as they apply to stevedoring operation.