By Stephen UBanna
More facts have emerged why the trio of Bashir Jamoh, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, the NIMASA , , hudi Offodile, Executive Director, Finance and Administration, in the agency and Magadalene Ajani, the Permanent Secretary, Federal ministry of Transportation were nominated for the ministry of Labour and Productivity , awards, slated to hold on Monday, June 5, 2023, at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
In nominating the trio for the NPOM Award they were said to have been as ‘’hardworking and productive in the public service’’ by the selection Committee. The National Productivity Order of Merit Award was said to have been instituted by the government at the Federal level ‘’to recognize and honour productive individuals in the Civil service in the year of the award for achievements made in the preceding years.
Between March 10, 2020 and much of 2023, , Bashir Jamoh, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and his management has been closely watched by officials of the Federal ministry of Labour and Productivity ,, supervised by Chris Ngige , a former governor of Anambra state, during former President Muhammadu Buari Administration.
The Labour and Productivity officials may have become convinced that the Kaduna state born technocrat and his management team are very hardworking and productive going by the drop in piracy activities in Nigerian activities and the Gulf of Guinea. The NIMASA Director General, described as a workaholic in maritime circles and the ministry to have used the country’s Navy under the close watch of past and current Chief of Naval Staff, CNS, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, and entities within the Yaounde architecture and the operational piracy response from the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum,, SHADE, and the G7++ friends of the Gulf of Guinea in keeping with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2634 on piracy to pfotect seafarers.
Officials the Labour and Productivity ministry may have have recommended the trio of Jamoh, the DG, Nig, NIMSA, for productivity award on the grounds that there are Organisations that would have the kind of maritime security equipment procured by the Federal for the agency but cannot deliver on their mandate.
Jamoh and his management team, according the ministry sources , were said to have effectively used the 17 Interceptor boats, 16 armoured vehicles for Coastal Patrol , two Special Mission Vessel, two Special Mission aircrafts for Surveillance of Nigeria Economic Zone, EEZ, three Special Mission Helicopters for Search and Rescue operations and four unmanned Aerial vehicles procured with $195 million by the former President Muhammadu Administration for the agency’s antipiracy operation, thus reducing their activities by 80% , as 2021from Nigerian waters and the Guinea of Guinea, despite the loss of $783 million to piracy in the region over the years.
The agency recent procuement of six vessels worth millions of the North American country of the United States, US, dollars under the Leadership of Jamoh, was said to have strengthened its anti-piracy operation
The a Blue economy , developed by the agency , which has gained wide acceptance nationwide appears to have made the ministry of Labour and productivity to see the Jamoh led NIMASA, as a performer and the officials deserved to be given productivity awards. Many believe Nigeria’s past governments to explore the vast resources that the Blue economy offers may have affected the country’s growth and development.
It was not surprising why the NIMASA , Chief Executive Officer, CEO, and Offodile, were nominated by the nistry as a recipient of the 2021 NPOM , Award while Ajani, the Federal ministry of Transportation Permanent Secretary was said to have been nominated as a 2022, recipient of the Award. The NIMASA, CEO, who was enthused by the Award coming from the Federal ministry of Labour and Productivit, was said to have dedicated it to the industry stakeholders, both external and internal who has made his Leadership of the maritime regulatory agency easier as an Administration.
The NPOM Award may have encouraged him to assured Nigerians that that the agency under his Leadership will continue ‘’to strive to develop the Blue economy mantra, which is critical to the sustainability of the nation’s maritime sector. Last October, former President Muhammadu Buhari, had conferred the NIMASA Director Genneral with National Honour for his outstanding performance in the nimasa, The Katsina born Nigerian Presiden has conferred him with the Officer of the Fedral Republic , OFR, Award.
He was said to have lauded the NPOM Award for Ajani, the ministry of Transportation Permanent Secretary , describing it as a deserved reward as she has remained a core professional and astute Administrator in the Coordination of the activities of the ministry and the agencies , comprising of NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, Nigerian Inland Water Ways Authority, NIWA and Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, including Nigerian Maritime Accademy ,, Oron, Akwa Ibom state, amongst others, which are under the supervision of the ministry.
An elated Jamoh, who could not hide his feelings had said that he was not surprised by her selection as ‘’she is an Administrator par excellence and has remained resolute and professional in the discharge of her duties in the ministry that she is commonly referred to as the ‘’Head Mistress of the ministry and the nation’s maritime sector’’. I congratulate her on the well deserving honour, he further remarked.
Osagie Edward, an Assistant Director, and NIMASA, spokesperson, could hide his joy that the agency boss and the Offodie, the Executive Director , Finance and Administration , including Ajani, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry could be recognized for the NPOM Award, describing as very encouraging.
