NIMASA DG says inter-agency synergy imperative in addressing accident on Inland waterways

NIMASA DG says inter-agency synergy  imperative in addressing accident on Inland waterways

The Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamoh, says inter-agency collaboration is key to sustainable resolution of the problem of accident in Nigerian inland waterways, which led to avoidable loss of lives and property.

Jamoh made this known during awareness forum in Lagos organised by the NIMASA in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), and Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).

The NIMASA Director General, who was represented by the Head of Marine Accident Investigation Unit, Captain Abayomi Coker, stated that the Agency is committed to the search for a lasting solution to loss of lives and property in the country’s maritime domain.​

“NIMASA established the Marine Accident investigation Unit to conduct investigations to establish the circumstances, and causes of accidents in the Nigerian maritime domain. We then identified the inadequacies in maintenance of vessel and their equipment.

We seek measures, which can be implemented to avoid reccurrence of such accidents in future and inter Agency collaboration has been identified to play a major role”. He said
Officials of  MWUN, NIWA, NPA and LASWA joined their colleagues from NIMASA to engage non convention boat operators on boat maintenance, boarding and disembarking procedures marine accident reporting procedures, firefighting and prevention.

In the same vein, graduating students from the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Research were drilled on safety measures onboard sea-going vessels by NIMASA.

In his address at the event, NIMASA DG Dr Bashir Jamoh noted that accidents in the maritime sector are caused by human errors, that understanding the basic factors concerning the human element is an essential step towards forestalling or mitigating such accidents.

“As the Maritime Safety Administration for Nigeria and in line with its mandate to ensure safety of navigation and the protection of the Nigerian marine environment and its resources, NIMASA  continues to initiate and promote safety culture to reduce or possibly prevent accidents in our water ways. You would all agree with me that prevention is better and cheaper than cure”, the DG said.

The DG further stated that the lecture series was initiated for seafarers/cadets in approved maritime institutions, with the objective of educating them on lessons learnt from accidents that occurred within the Nigerian maritime domain and accident that affected vessels of Nigerian interest outside the country.

According to Jamoh, “Various issues cause accidents within our marine environment, and as an Agency, we have taken note and have  history of them. We are not only being reactive, but are poised to continue to take proactive measures in addressing them. Therefore, it is our intention to build on our efforts to ensure sustainability in this regard because NIMASA believes that this will enhance and promote safety culture in our work environment and guard against re-occurrence”

The International Maritime Organization IMO’s casualty Investigation Code of 2008 which seeks to promote a common approach to safety investigation of marine casualties and incidents has placed obligation on all member states to carry out an impartial investigation with the purpose of learning safety lessons from marine accidents without apportioning blame.