The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening institutional collaboration with the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) to enhance maritime safety, security and marine casualty investigation in Nigeria.

The commitment was made by the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, when he received the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr., on a courtesy visit to the Agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

Speaking during the meeting, Dr. Mobereola affirmed that the Agency recognises the strategic role of the NSIB and the importance of stronger collaboration in advancing maritime safety and security.

According to him, “NIMASA understands the critical role of the NSIB in promoting transportation safety. Strengthening safety and security within our maritime domain requires commitment, collaboration and practical frameworks that deliver sustainable results.

“Our shared responsibility is to build a maritime sector that operates on global best practices while protecting lives, vessels and the marine environment. Ultimately, our collective goal is to contribute to making Nigeria greater through stronger institutions and effective inter-agency cooperation.

“We are committed to working closely with the NSIB as a sister agency to build a partnership that will strengthen the nation’s maritime safety architecture and deliver lasting value to the industry.”

Dr. Mobereola noted that the initiative also aligns with the vision of the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, whose emphasis on collaboration continues to strengthen the delivery of the Federal Government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda.

Earlier, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the NSIB, Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr., described collaboration between both agencies as essential to improving transportation safety and preventing future marine casualties. He noted that while the two organisations have distinct statutory mandates, they share the common objective of protecting lives, property and the marine environment through effective safety systems.

“Our mandates are different, but our destination is the same; a safer and more resilient maritime sector for Nigeria. Safety is most effective when institutions work together, sharing information, expertise and best practices. A stronger partnership between the NSIB and NIMASA will enhance marine casualty investigations, strengthen preventive measures and ensure that lessons learned translate into safer operations across the maritime industry,” Badeh stated.

He identified key areas for collaboration to include marine casualty notification, emergency response coordination, preservation of evidence, information sharing, technical support, capacity building and implementation of safety recommendations, noting that a formal partnership would further strengthen Nigeria’s compliance with international maritime standards.

Both agencies agreed to immediately constitute technical committees to develop the framework for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and draft the Terms of Reference that will guide cooperation in information sharing, marine casualty investigations, capacity development and implementation of safety recommendations.

The collaboration is expected to establish a structured framework for institutional cooperation, reinforce Nigeria’s compliance with international maritime obligations and further strengthen the country’s maritime safety regime.

As a key driver of Nigeria’s maritime administration, NIMASA remains committed to strategic collaboration as a cornerstone of its operations, leveraging partnerships with national and international stakeholders to enhance maritime safety and security, strengthen regulatory efficiency and support the Federal Government’s vision of a globally competitive and sustainable Blue Economy.

•PHOTO: Executive Director Operations, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Engr. Fatai Taiye Adeyemi; Director General, Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB), Captain Alex Sabundu Badeh Jnr.; Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola; Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services, NIMASA, Mr. Jibril Abba; and Executive Director, Finance and Administration, NIMASA; Mr. Chudi Offodile; during a courtesy visit by the NSIB DG/CEO to the headquarters of NIMASA in Lagos.

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