NEWS: NIGERIA - FG commences probe of NIMASA

THE Federal Government may have begun the probe of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), following a flurry of petitions and widespread allegations of fraud and impunity leveled against the regulatory body by stakeholders.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and the Minister of State for Aviation, Idris Sirika, who stormed Lagos seaports yesterday for an on-the-spot-assessment of NIMASA facilities were visibly disappointed with the deplorable state of the Resource Centre, despite billions of naira reportedly expended on it.

Furiously, Amaechi or- dered the Acting NIMASA Director General/Chief Ex- ecutive, Baba Haruna Jauro, to furnish the Ministry with details of all the contracts executed by the agency since its inception in 2007.
“Aside the contract papers,

I also want to see the revenue generated since inception. How much in naira and dollars? Make it very detailed. I want to see how much was given to the government out of the money generated. I want to see how much was spent and how it was spent; the contracts awarded and the contractors that executed such contracts. Who are they? What is the profile or pedigree of the contractors? Where are they? Who handled what? Have they been paid and are there outstanding payments? I also want to know how many people work in NIMASA nationwide. What are their qualifications in line with the rules of en- gagement? I want the staff nominal role, including the cleaners. Today is Monday, so I should get these materials and reports by next week Monday. You have seven days to submit it”, Amaechi ordered.

During the inspection, the Transportation Minister and his entourage were shocked to learn that an elevator built eight years ago had ceased to work despite the huge funds channeled into it.

“How can you say the contractor has not handed over the project that was built eight years ago? Has he been paid? Why is the elevator not working? So much impunity here”, he queried. At the Search and Rescue medical laboratory, Amaechi lamented the absence of equipment, wondering the quality of medical treatment staff get when they visit the place.

“At the lab, there is no equipment. They even share stethoscope I’m told. The officer in charge said they

only have basic equipment. The learning centre is poor. Restaurant has bad chairs; toilets not flushed or kept clean; billions of naira spent and I wonder where it was spent. The search and rescue centre isn’t what it should be. Governance should not be hidden. There should be transparency. People steal because there is no punishment and transparent dealings but all these will stop. Anyone that calls me wants to work in NIMASA. So you people must have money. We will look into the books”, he stated.

Before wrapping up his inspection of the NIMASA Resource Centre in Kiri kiri, Lagos, Amaechi assembled all the staff working at the place to feel their pulses.

They boldly expressed their unhappiness about the facility, describing the environment as most unconducive.

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