By Stephen Ubanna
Last Tuesday, October 11, 2022, Bashir Jamoh, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, joined 449 Nigerians and friends of Nigeria that were conferred with national honours by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Jamoh, the Kaduna state born technocrat, and NIMASA, Director General, was conferred with the award of the Officer of Federal Republic, OFR, by the Katsina state born Nigerian President. At a reception that was said to have been organised for the maritime regulatory agency Chief Executive Officer, CEO, by the staff, Industry stakeholders, and close friends at the FCT, Jamoh had dedicated the Presidential award, of OFR, ‘’to all industry stakeholder’’, who according to him have worked tirelessly to ensure that the industry serves its purpose.
He was emphatic,’’ I want to dedicate this award to the industry stakeholders’’, with whom we have been closely working together for the past two years ‘’ to ensure we improve on the affairs of the industry’’. He was said to have also dedicated the award ’’to the joint industry operators, the international Community’’, assuring that they will continue ‘’to work hard, tirelessly to ensure that the country’s maritime water ways remains safe and secure’’.
The NIMASA, boss may have singled out Muazu Jaji Sambo, minister of Transportation, for special appreciation for all his support to him and the agency within the short period he has been office. He was said to have also ‘’thanked the agency governing Board, the Executive Management and the staff, for their commitment to delivering the dividends of the maritime sector to Nigeria, while ‘’pledging to work even harder’’.
The NIMASA helmsman did not stop there. He had thanked the minister, particular, and other eminent Nigerians, who had joined‘’to celebrate with him and the family the national to merit award. ‘’I want to assure you that the journey has just begun’’, he had said. He was said to have given his words that ’’whatever he is doing that had made individuals and the country to recognise him, for awards, ‘’I will have to redouble my efforts’’.
In apparent appreciation that one of the CEOs in one of the agencies under his ministry was given national honours by the Nigerian President, Sambo, the minister of Transportation, who could not hide his feelings had said that ‘’Jamoh was deserving of the award and more’’, citing his dedication ‘’to improving the nation’s maritime industry and the economy through his work in NIMASA’’. He was said ‘’to have cited the Deep Blue Project, and other efforts to protect the country’s maritime environment’’.
Ade Dosumu, a former Director General of the agency, who have also identified with Jamoh, since his appointment by the President, on March 10, 2020, as the Director General of NIMASA, who was at the reception organised for him to celebrate the national honour that was conferred on him had ‘’commended him for his hardwork and tenacity’’, stating that ‘’he was well deserving of the award’’.
Enator Danjuma Lar, Senate Minority Chief Whip, may have gladdened Jamoh’s heart when he said that he has made Kaduna his home state and the people proud’’.
