Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has expressed readiness of the Agency to partner with Federal Government to tackle developmental challenges in the Niger Delta region.

Dr Peterside, who spoke on the sidelines during the visit of Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to Rivers State as part of on-going Niger Delta dialogue with stakeholders, stated that NIMASA is already pursuing one of the visions of President Buhari-led government in the region.

According to him, NIMASA is already working with relevant security agencies to arrest sea piracy, thus enabling vessels and ships coming to the region to feel safe and by extension, helping to promote economic activities.

He disclosed that the Agency is consistently reviewing its operations to meet with the challenges of modern maritime activities, while insisting that several Nigerian youths would soon start making dollars from sea faring.

The NIMASA boss told journalists at the Port Harcourt international airport that the Agency has made provisions for the beneficiaries of the Nigerian Seafarers’ Development Programme (NSDP) to obtain their Certificate of Competency (CoC) by undergoing requisite sea time training to qualify them for global shipping and earn in foreign exchange.

While disclosing that budgetary provisions have been made, he stressed that youths from Niger Delta region are part the beneficiaries who would get the best of training across the globe.

Dr Peterside called on the people of Rivers state to support efforts of the Buhari administration to revamp the economy and bring development to Niger Delta region, stressing that appointees from the region are united in their desire to bring home democratic dividends.