The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) Zaria, on research and training towards enhancing maritime safety and security in Nigeria.
Director-General of NIMASA Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, in a brief ceremony on Saturday in Zaria, said the MoU was hinged on research and training with a view to enhance local contents and boost quality assurance of the institute.
He pointed out that his organisation and NITT have been together for over 30 years, adding that the occasion was to formalise and strengthen the relationship in the areas of research, training and development.
According to him, activities of sea pirates had negatively impacted the sector in 2020 and dented the image of our country, however attacks by sea pirates subsided by 2021 and from January 2022 to date Nigeria did not record any attack by the pirates.
He noted that the NIMASA achieved the success through strategic collaborations and partnerships with key stakeholders in the sector.
The DG maintained that collaboration with the NITT would further support NIMASA with research to sustain the gains and strengthen the sector.
Dr Jamoh said with the signing of the MoU, the NITT would assist NIMASA with either research or training in wherever it observes gaps.
“If it is gaps on individuals that drive the transport industry then the gaps would be bridged in terms of training.
“If it is in terms of infrastructure the institute will conduct research to determine the type of infrastructure that would address the identified gaps.
“If the gaps were identified in terms of the general progress of the industry, the institute would also come-in,’’ he said.
He noted that NITT Zaria was established to develop not only the maritime industry but the whole transport and logistics sector, stressing that NIMASA would sustain its support to the institute towards enhancing growth and development in the transport and logistics sector.
Also speaking, Director-General NITT Dr. Bayero Farah, said the that the MoU was aimed at strengthening the relationship between NITT and NIMASA so that NITT can provide more training to the staff of NIMASA.
Farah said the MoU was also hinged on collaborative research between the NIMASA and NITT on critical and dynamic issues that affects the maritime industry in Nigeria.
His words “at any time we had issues in the Maritime Sector NITT and NIMASA would conduct a research and proffer solution based on an international best practice.
“With the signing of this MoU the training of NIMASA’s managers’ carder by the NITT towards enhancing the growth of the sector would commence with immediate effect.’’
