By Stephen Ubanna
Dayo Mobereola , Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, appears to have improved the service delivery of the agency that it has won the attention of the Leadership of SERVICOM to be given an award of excellence, thus throwing a challenge to other ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, which could not meet up the expectation of Nnanna Akamejili led agency to sit up.
SERVICOM, was established by the deceased President Umaru Yara Adua’s Administration in March 2004, to empower public officers ‘’to be alert to their responsibilities in providing improved, efficient, timely and transparent services to Nigerians’’.
This may have informed why the agency had put a close tab on the MDAs, to ensure they improve on their service delivery. The Leadership of SERVICOM, was said to have also made it mandatory for a Unit of the agency to be established in all MDAs, for close monitoring by the Nodal and Focal staff to guide their recommendation for award which is organized on a yearly basis.
Akamejili, the SERVICOM Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, had said that the Nodal and Focal officers pay attention’’ to details, and the agency commitment to service of excellence, collaboration and innovation to promote best practice in service delivery before rewarding and celebrating any MDAs that had met and exceeded citizens expectation’’.
As a prelude to institutionalizing the award system in the agency, the agency was said to have also institutionalized the awards and reward system so that they don’t only preach to the MDAs to reward those who do well but are seen to practice what they preach in line with SERVICOM method of raising and praising individuals, service providers and Organizations.

Akamejili, the National Coordinator and CEO, who was said to have commended NIMASA, in a letter for its unwavering interest and commitment to improving service delivery in the agency had said ‘’We are encouraged by our inspiring strive to ensure that Nigerians receive quality and timely service from the Nigerian state’’.
It is not surprising why she had said that the agency will continue to count on the support and Cooperation of NIMASA as a key stakeholder in the provision of satisfactory services to all Nigerian citizens in the realization of the essence of governance.
Giving an insider information on the history of the maritime agency, Osagie Edward, an Assistant Director and spokesperson of the agency disclosed that it was established by the NIMASA Act of 2007, as the regulatory agency of the nation’s maritime sector. There are indications that over 30 MDAs and some supporting CEOs, had received various awards and recognition this 2024 fiscal year.
An elated Mobereola, had said that award for excellence during the 2024 SERVICOM end of year Nodal officers Meeting /Awards ceremony in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, clearly highlights ‘’ the agency commitment to enhancing service delivery standards, improving transparency and ensuring efficiency in its operations’’.
In winning the SERVICOM award for excellence shows that the agency which was established to access the service delivery of other government agencies and give award to the one had excelled may have been appalled by the standard of service delivery of NIMASA, since Mobereola, the incumbent Chief Executive Officer, CEO, mounted the saddle last March.
The NIMASA, helmsman may have alluded to this when he stated that the agency strides in providing quality services to stakeholders in the nation’s maritime industry, including the facilitation of maritime security, maritime safety, maritime regulation and the promotion of the country’s maritime sector in general may have prompted the Leadership of SERVICOM to accord it such recognition.

Rakiya Lami, the Head of the agency SERVICOM Unit, who was said to represented the Director General at the presentation of the prestigious award at the FCT, was said to have ‘’expressed gratitude to the Presidency through the SERVICOM office for recognizing agency’s efforts in the discharge of their duties.
She may have spoken the mind of the NIMASA, boss, when she assured the Leadership of and Staff of SERVICOM, that the Maritime Regulatory Agency will not rest on its oars but will instead double its efforts in the delivery of its services in the nation’s maritime sector to make it one of the best in the African Continent.
The NIMASA, spokesperson was said to have to have told those that cares to listen that that key responsibilities of the agency include ensuring maritime safety, maritime security, protecting the country’s marine environment from pollution, enforcing compliance with the maritime Laws as obtained in the Asian countries of China, India, United Kingdom, UK, Europe and the North American country of the United States, US, other parts of the world.
Another core mandate of the agency which had not fully matured despite the establishment the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund, CVFF, to give financial support indigenous shipping companies to purchased ocean going vessels to break the monopoly of the foreign shipping companies which currently dominate the country’s maritime sector
Muazu Jaji Sambo, an Engr. And former minister of Transportation, a ministry that had been split into two: ministry of Transportation and ministry of marine and blue economy, under the present President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration, had said that the over $350 million, funds was part of the Nigerian Government to reposition the maritime sector to become a hub in the West and Central African subregion as well as boost the revenue base of the country but that was how far he could go.
Another core mandate of NIMASA, going by the 2007 Act, tat had set up, is to support the training of maritime Professionals, amongst other responsivities.