NIMASA seeks private partnership on marine waste management

By Udeme Clement

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has called for public private partnership in a bid to effectively manage ship-generated waste within the Nigerian marine and coastal environment.

NIMASA Director General, Mr. Zikiade Patrick Akpobolokemi, stated this when he led top officials of the agency on a facility tour of the operations of African Circle Pollution Management Limited (ACPML), located in the Free Zone, Snake Island, Lagos, as part of efforts to ensure that the provisions of the IMO MARPOL 1973/78 Conventions as they relate to adequacy of port reception facilities in the country are complied with.

He noted that investment in waste management in the Nigerian marine environment would not only improve the country’s rating in the global maritime industry, but also have a multiplier effect of employment generation in Nigeria amongst others. “It is to the benefit of Nigerians that this public private partnership model of managing waste in our marine environment is sustained and encouraged to grow rapidly. We are committed to the growth of this industry. This is because if you look at the manpower development, employment generation, economic activities, besides the fact that they help us meet IMO requirements in managing waste in our marine environment, you will agree with me that it is worth Government support to ensure growth,” he said.

The NIMASA boss disclosed that the management of NIMASA would support public private partnership (PPP) model to facilitate effective management of ship-generated waste within the Nigerian marine and coastal environment. According to him, the management of the agency would not relent in its efforts to implement the global maritime watchdog conventions as it relates to the management of the nation’s marine environment.