Nimasa Records 685 % Increase in Cabotage Fund

Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Nimasa) management led by Temisan Omatseye as director general and chief executive officer, last week celebrated its one year in office with a recorded increase of 685.7 per cent increase in the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF).
The Omatseye led management, which assumed office in July 10,2009, recorded a significant increase of the CVFF from less than seven million dollars in July 2009 to over 55 million dollars in June 2010, representing an increase of 685.7 per cent.
However, his management is in the fore front of driving the process for the establishment of the regional maritime development bank to further provide funding corridor for ship acquisition and infrastructural development.
According to him, “our vision statement is tied to our 10 years strategic agenda for transforming Nimasa into the number one maritime administration agency in Africa by the year 2020 and our mission statement is to achieve safe, secure, first class shipping services, cleaner oceans and enhanced maritime capacity utilization cutting edge expertise whilst impacting positively on the Nigerian economy.”
Furthermore, the agency recorded 1,318 vessels in its ship registry, representing 45 per cent increase from the previous figure at inception of the Omatseye led management.
Also, this management few months ago commenced the issuance of Biometric Identity Cards with security features to all dockworkers registered by the Agency. This exercise is to ensure that only authorized Dockworkers gain access to the nation’s Sea Ports/Terminal and Private Jetties.
Omatseye who handed out the first set of ID cards to the dockworkers noted that the exercise is to ensure that only authorized Dockworkers gain access to the nation’s Sea Ports/Terminals and Jetties.
He urged Terminal and Jetty Operators to register Dockworkers on their payroll with the Agency. “All Terminal and Private Jetty Operators who are yet to comply with the registration of Dockworkers engaged by them are hereby requested to register such dockworkers with NIMASA in order to forestall work stoppage at their Terminals and Jetties” he said.   
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nimasa, is a government agency committed to the enthronement of global best practices in the provision of maritime services in Nigeria.
The agency’s areas of focus include effective Maritime Safety Administration, Maritime Labour Regulation, Marine Pollution Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue, Cabotage enforcement, Shipping Development and Ship Registration, Training and Certification of Seafarers, and Maritime Capacity Development.