Bayelsa, NIMASA partner on Maritime Academy, deep seaport
Bayelsa State government has solicited the partnership of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) towards establishing a maritime academy, enhancing security within its maritime domain and developing its deep seaport.
Governor Douye Diri, who disclosed this on Monday during a courtesy visit to the NIMASA director-general, Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, in Lagos, said the state had re-opened the process of establishing the academy and recognised the agency as central to actualising the project.
The governor, in a statement by Daniel Alabrah, his acting chief press secretary, noted that Nigeria’s real wealth and that of Bayelsa were in its maritime environment and that his administration was ready to tap into the resources to improve the state’s revenue profile.
Governor Diri stated that with the longest coastline in the country, Bayelsa was rich not only in oil and gas but very much so in maritime resources.
“This is the beginning of an improved relationship between NIMASA and the people of Bayels a state. we are both bound by a common denominator, which is water. Bayelsa is a wholly riverine state with all its local governments and their headquarters accessible by river and rivulets. Till date, there are three local government headquarters you can only access through water namely Brass, Southern Ijaw and Ekeremor.
“My visit is to further deepen the existing cordial relationship between our state and your agency. A huge part of Nigeria’s coastline is in our state. So we need to join hands together in order to strengthen the maritime domain of our country.
“Let me inform you that the Bayelsa State government is in the process of establishing a maritime academy. The process started before I assumed office and I’m prepared to continue with the process of having a maritime academy.
“I believe that the wealth of this country and that of Bayelsa is in our maritime domain. I therefore invite you to partner with the state government in the establishment of that academy,” the governor said.
While calling on NIMASA to take advantage of the opportunities in Bayelsa’s maritime environment by establishing a befitting office in the state, he appealed for synergy with the agency in order to combat sea piracy, kidnapping and other criminal activities on the state’s waterways.