Abuja – The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has expressed the Federal Government’s commitment toward maintaining standards in the nation’s maritime industry, in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions.
Amaechi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Sabiu Zakari, made the pledge during the opening of Nigeria’s IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS) on Monday in Abuja.
He assured the organisation and stakeholders that government would continue to abide by all the IMO conventions it had ratified in a bid to turn around the fortunesof the industry.
The minister said that the objective of the audit was to promote consistent and effective implementation of the six applicable IMO instruments and assisting member states to improve their capabilities.
He added that the exercise would also help member-states in the enforcement of those instruments to enhance their overall performance in complying with IMO conventions.
According to him, the six instruments are the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Prevention of Pollution from Ship (MARPOL) and Standards of Training Certification and Watch Keeping for Sea Farers (STCW) Convention.
Other instruments are Load Lines (LL) Convention, Tonnage Measurement of Ships Convention and Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREG).
“As a state party, Nigeria is party to all mandatory IMO Conventions and related protocols, some of which are covered under the IMSAS.
“Nigeria also has obligations and responsibilities to the IMO and its conventions of which this audit is an integral part,’’ he said.
The Leader of the IMO Auditors, Mr Cahit Yakin, said the exercise was a good chance to help the country to target appropriate action to develop the industry, adding that the country would derive many benefits from it.
Yakin said that the audit was a suitable way to measure performance with the involvement of international experts.
He further said that the exercise was objective and an independent process and that the and results were confidential.
“The audit will assist in improving your capacity effectively to implement the applicable implements and ensure compliance with international requirements.
“Audit results may be used as a chance or a supporting factor to gain more financial, human or logistic resources from the government.’’
Yakin said the audit would take place between June 6 and June 14, adding that the results would be presented at the closing exercise in Lagos.
He said that during the exercise, interviews with individuals would be carried out, adding that private observers would not be allowed to sit in the audit.
In his remark, Dr Dakuku Peterside, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), commended the IMO team of auditors for their desire to ensure compliance by member states to safety in maritime industry.
Peterside said that the immediate vision of then current leadership of NIMASA was to make Nigeria regain global leadership in the maritime community and put the country in the first spot in international maritime.
According to him, the IMSAS Audit is not an end itself but a beginning of a process. (NAN)