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Merger of NIMASA, Customs, FIRS counterproductive – Ex-NIMASA DG
The proposed merger of Nigerian Maritime Administration And Safety Agency (NIMASA) with Nigeria Customs Service and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has been condemned by a former Director-General of the NIMASA, Dr. Ade Dosunmu.
The economic team of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proposed to the President the merger of these three government parastatals to shore up the revenue profile of the Federal Government.
However, Dosunmu, NIMASA DG from May 2007 to July 2009, warned that such a move could spell doom for the Nigerian maritime industry.
“It is a very serious misconception and dangerous for the future of the shipping/ Maritime industry in Nigeria.
“I can say the proposal in my view is like suggesting a merger of the Nigerian Navy with Nigeria Civil Defence because the latter has responsibility for protecting critical national assets.,” he said.
Dosunmu, who spoke in a statement, said NIMASA is not a revenue-generating agency.
According to him, the agency is a technical agency charged with shipping development and administration, safe and secured navigation and cleaner oceans whose functions should not be tampered with or watered down through merger.
Dosunmu said rather than merging the agency with other organs of government, it should be strengthened for enhanced performance.
“It is therefore my humble position that the emphasis of Government should be on how to strengthen NIMASA to deliver more on its technical mandates and not merging it with agencies that are not compatible with its philosophy and objectives.
“It is my strong view therefore that the proposed merger will be counterproductive with huge negative implications for Nigeria in the global shipping community.
“Our waters may be considered no longer safe for international shipping and that can affect the volume of maritime trade and eventually lead to a drop in revenue.
” Another implication is that our waters can become a destination for rickety ships and thereby becoming a dumping ground for shipwrecks and derelicts,” he said.
He observed that NIMASA could, in the course of its duties, generate revenue, part of which it remits to the Federation account, but said that is not enough reason to regard the agency as a revenue-generating agency due to its critical role in the development the maritime sector in Nigeria.
“Let me quickly point out that there is no doubt that in the course of discharging her technical mandate, NIMASA generates revenue and uses part of it to prosecute its technical regulatory functions.
“The surplus at the end of the year is paid into the federation account in line with the target set by the Ministry of Finance.
“However, the critical and urgent nature of some of these technical activities and the fact that they require an instant response is part of the reason NIMASA is allowed to retain its funds and sometimes not allowed to go through the bureaucracy of tendering e.g a vessel that is sinking or an unexpected oil spill and pollution of the waters, or wreck that needs to be removed to ensure the safety of channels for Navigation, flag state inspection, survey, a regular patrol of our coastal waters and enforcement of necessary regulations,” he stated.
Dosunmu stressed the critical role the maritime industry plays in the economic well-being of Nigeria and the logistics support it provides for the oil and gas industry, which is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy.
He, therefore, warned that the regulator and administration agency of this critical sector should not be killed in a trial and error policy of merger.
Instead, he advised the President to engage in wider consultation with the critical stakeholders before embarking on this policy.
According to him, “As former Director General/CEO of NIMASA, Executive Director (NIMASA), Assistant General Manager (NPA) and representative of Nigeria on the Council of International Maritime Organisation (IMO), my advice is that the Federal government under the able leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR should consult major maritime stakeholders on issues affecting the Maritime industry for proper guidance.
“The industry is the gateway to the economy of Nigeria and also very critical to the logistics aspect of the oil and gas industry since most of the crude oil production and exploration activities take place offshore Nigerian waters.
“Trial and error will not work. Rather, NIMASA being the regulator should be strengthened technically.
” The whole idea of merger should be set aside until wider consultation with the industry stakeholders is held.”
Dosunmu admonished Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman, the new Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination to use her vast experience in the industry as the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to properly guide Mr President on this critical matter.
“However, I am happy Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman, the former MD of the Nigerian Ports Authority, has been appointed by President Tinubu as the Special Adviser Policy Coordination.
“Hadiza , whom I know is very abreast of the Nigerian Maritime sector, would be able to advise the President accordingly due to her expertise and experience in the industry.”