By NGOZI Onyeakusi

The Director-General, The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has disclosed that the agency was planning to implement a new security programme.

Peterside, who spoke when the Shipping Association of Nigeria (SAN) paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos, stated that the association was working toward ensuring security of the maritime sector through the integrated maritime security infrastructure and waterways surveillance system.

It added that no stone would be left unturned to achieve the agency’s objectives of zero tolerance for all forms of criminalities on the nation’s waterways.

“Let me assure you that very soon, the issue of maritime security would be history, because by then we would have fully implemented the new maritime security architecture, which would include deployment of more equipment, more personnel and of course upping the game in the area of intelligence,” he said.

He gave assurance to the association that the agency would continue to work closely with all the relevant stakeholders towards optimising the benefits of the sector.

“We are not on different sides; we may be working from different perspectives, but we are working towards the same goal in ensuring that people optimise benefits from maritime transportation. We are ensuring that there are no inefficiencies and that our effectiveness is on top of the game, so that Nigeria will be a preferred destination for commerce and for doing transaction,” he stated.