By Stephen Ubanna
Barely here months after President Muhammadu Buhari, honoured Bashir Jamoh, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, with the Officer of the Federal Republic award, OFR, the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, may have added to the awards for the NIMASA, Director General as well.CITN, is a professional organization in Nigeria whose members are certified as qualified tax practitioners or administrators.
Jamoh, the NIMASA, Director General,had been recognised with ‘’the 2022 ‘Outstanding Service to Taxation Profession’ award by the CITN, at a dinner in Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve centre.The Agency’s DG, Dr. Industry operators believe that he may have been nominated for the CITN award due to the commitment he has exhibited in the quest’’ to enthrone global best practices in the provision of maritime services in Nigeria’’.
There is no gain saying the fact that between March 10, 2020,, and now, the NIMASA, CEO, had received several accolades both within and outside the country, including being the winner of the 2021 Zik Prize for Leadership in Public Policy and Public Service.
Besides being honoured by the Institute it was said to also bestowed a Corporate award to the agency which had come under the Kaduna state born Chief Executive Officer , CEO, of the Maritime Regulatory agency. The Corporate award is the latest recognition of the efforts by NIMASA, under the current management, to positively contribute to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.
Osagie Edward, an Assistant Director, and the agency spokesperson, had said that the agency has received the commendation letter from the CITN, for its corporate citizenship performance.
Many believe that NIMASA, under the Leadership of Jamoh, may have been recognized for the CITN award, because of what analysts had described as ‘’its exemplary record of tax-compliance and corporate social initiatives including its nationwide distribution of relief materials to internally displaced persons as well as donations to Small and Medium Enterprise,SME, equipment meant to uplift the economically challenged in the 36 states of the federation’’.
The League of Maritime Editors, LOME, a foremost maritime Association, which had been monitoring the activities of the NIMASA boss, over the last two years and the changes he has brought to the nation’s maritime sector, particular, forcing the Pirates and sea robbers out of Nigerian waters and Gulf of Guinea, may have informed why the Association has slated for an award on Thursday, December 8, 2022, in Lagos.
The Association is expected to honour him alongside with Eng. Muazu Jaji Sambo, the Taraba state born minister of Transportation , Hameed Ali, a retired Army Colonel and Comptroller General, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS The , and two of his Area Comptrollers and two Deputy Comptrollers, holding strategic positions. The two Area Controllers and acting Comptroller that were said to have been approvedby the Customs Comptroller General to be honoured by LOME, were Compt. Malanta Ibrahim Yusuf, Apapa Command, Albashir Hamisu, Federal Operations Unit, Zone B, Kaduna, Kaduna state. The Area Comptroller, FOU, Zone A, Acting Compt. Hussain Kehinde Ejibunu was also on the list of the Customs Area Comptrooller to be honoured by LOME. The two Deputy Comptrollers, holding strategic positions that were said to have been penciled down for the League awrd were Mohammed Ysuf, Coo and former rdinator, Headquarters Strike Force, Tam A, Lagos and Timi Bomadi, the Customs National Public Relations officer.
Other key maritime operators that had been listed for LOME award include Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman SIFAX Group and Prince Olayiwola, shittu, Chairman, SKELAX and former Chairman, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA.
