- Insists merit, professionalism guide agency’s leadership structure
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has debunked an online media report which accused the agency of nepotism and bias in its promotions.
NIMASA revealed this in a statement signed by the Head of Public Relations, Mr. Osagie Edward, yesterday.
“Our attention has been drawn to a publication in an online medium with allegations of nepotism against the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) under the leadership of Dr. Bashir Jamoh OFR. I wish to state categorically that this publication is subjective, smirking mischief, skewed to achieve the goals of the fabricator, and meant to mislead Nigerians.”
“It is worthy of note that the Agency’s approved organogram has 9 directorates and 11 autonomous units. At present NIMASA has 12 Directors with all but one of them promoted under Jamoh’s administration. The breakdown shows that 5 are from South South, 3 from South West, 2 from South East and 1 each from North East and North West. We wish to put on record that the two Directors promoted this year were both from Southern Nigeria. This implies that the ratio of the Agency’s Director from South to North is 10:2, representing over 83% Southern Directors, as against less than 17% Northern Directors.”
“The Directors of Marine Environment Management Department, Special Duties, Data Management Services, Deep Blue and Secretary General of Abuja MoU are all from the South South geopolitical zone. The South West has Directors of Internal Audit, SERVICOM, and Maritime Labour Services Western Zone, while the Directors of Cabotage and Planning and Research Departments are from the South East. The North East and North West have one Director each, heading the Western Zonal Region and the Reform Coordination Unit respectively.”
“It is imperative to note that competent professionals from Southern Nigeria are heading seven (7) out of the eleven (11) autonomous Units of the Agency including the Agency’s spokesperson who is from South-South geopolitical Zone,” the press statement read.
While the agency encouraged media practitioners to always cross check their facts before going to press, it also posited that the allusion by the online report that the Agency has an office in Jos, Plateau State is misleading.
“This is a misrepresentation of facts, which is capable of misinforming the public, as the Agency has never operated an office in Plateau State,” it added.
However, the agency published the names, geopolitical zones and portfolios of its Directors and Heads of various units which should that only 7 out of the 20 positions were of Northern extraction contrary to the recent online report speculating an imbalance in favour of the North.
The NIMASA Directors and Heads of units include; Mr. Heaky Dimowo (South South), Director, Marine Environment Management; Mr. Isichei Osamgbi (South South), Director, Special Duties (External Relations & Technical Cooperation); Engr. Chris Amakulo (South South), Director, Data Management Services; Mr. Otonye Obom (South South) Director, Deep Blue; Captain Sunday Umoren (South South), Director & Secretary General Abuja, MoU.
Others are; Mrs. Olamide Odusanya (South West), Director, Internal Audit; Kehinde Bolaji (South West), Director, SERVICOM; Mrs. Olubusola Akande-Obasanjo (South West),Director, Maritime Labour Services, Western Zone; Mrs. Rita Uruakpa (South East), Director, Cabotage Services; Mr. Eric Oji (South East), Director, Planning Research & Data Management Services; Mr. Kabir Murnai (NorthWest), Director Western Zone.
Hajia Aisha Jidda (North East), Director, Reforms Coordination & Strategic Management; Hajia Aisha Idris (North Central) Head, Legal Services; Mr. Abdullahi Mustapha (North Central) Head, Financial Services; Mr. Khurason Inuwa (North West), Head, Shipping Development; Mr. Danjuma Babah (North West) Head, Procurement; Engr. Taiwo Olaniyan (South West), Head, Maritime Safety & Seafarers Standards; Mrs. Nancy Oluoha (South East) Head, Protocol; Mr. Tajudeen Yinka Giwa (North Central) Registrar of Shipping and Mr. Osagie Edward (South South), Head, Public Relations.