SAN FRANCISCO, August 27, (THEWILL) – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has dissociated itself from reports that it is opposed to the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, also serving as chairman of the Board.
It maintained that the statement purported made by a staff of the Agency, Mr. Momoh Alhassan, who added that NIMASA was pushing to be represented on the Board of the NCS, is not the position of NIMASA, but is merely the personal opinion of Alhassan.
The Agency made this clarification in a statement issued on Saturday by its Head, Corporate Communications, Hajia Lami Tumaka, which reads that, “Mr. Momoh Alhassan, though a staff of the Agency was merely expressing his opinion in his personal capacity.”
The event which was held in Lagos and organised by the Nigerian Customs was intended to sensitise stakeholders and garner feedback on the proposed amendment to the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA.
The statement continues, “NIMASA is not unaware of the correct procedure to be adopted in making its own presentations on matters of this nature which the Agency regards as very important.
“Being a draft law that will be forwarded to the National Assembly for legislative input and passage, the Agency will articulate its position at a public hearing at the National Assembly when the need arises.
“As a responsible organisation, NIMASA is dedicated to its core mandate of promoting the development of indigenous commercial shipping in international and coastal trade and the regulation of the maritime industry in Nigeria. The Agency will therefore always commit to only those ideals that can further this course.”
