The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has denied the allegations of nepotism leveled against its management under the leadership of Dr. Bashir Jamoh by a maritime based news medium (not Primetime Reporters).
NIMASA, in a statement signed by Mr. Osagie Edward, Assistant Director, Public Relations, NIMASA described the news report as subjective, smirking mischief, skewed to achieve the goals of the fabricator, and meant to mislead Nigerians.
The statement noted that the Agency’s approved organogram had nine directorates and eleven autonomous units adding that at present, NIMASA had twelve Directors with all but one of them promoted under Jamoh’s administration.
It further stated that the breakdown showed that five were from South South, three from South West, two from South East and one 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 statement clarified.
While urging media practitioners to always cross check their facts before going to press, it explained that the allusion by the news medium that the Agency had an office in Jos, Plateau State was misleading insisting that “This is a misrepresentation of facts, which is capable of misinforming the public, as the Agency has never operated an office in Plateau State.”
Photo: Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Director General, NIMASA.
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