The family of the late former Director General of the National Maritime Authority (NMA), Architect Ferdinand Agu has made public his burial date.
While his internment will take place on August 2, 2024, the obsequies will begin on July 23 in Abuja and will conclude with an outing service on August 4.
These were disclosed in a statement issued by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and signed by its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits at the weekend, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola expressed deep condolences during his visit to the family of the deceased.
He remarked that Agu’s passing was a significant loss to the Nigerian maritime industry, just as he acknowledged his contributions and influence in the sector.
Mobereola was said to have led a NIMASA delegation on the visit to late Agu’s family where he described the deceased as a man who left indelible marks in the nation’s maritime space while serving as Director General of the NMA and continued to selflessly contribute when called upon long after he left office.
Mobereola added that Agu’s achievements in the defunct NMA contributed to the success story of NIMASA in many invaluable ways.
He recalled that under Agu’s leadership, the NMA led Nigeria to be included in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) White List of countries compliant with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW).
He also eulogized him for conceptualizing and commencing the construction of the Nigerian Maritime Resource Development Centre in Kirikiri, Lagos which today serves many strategic and critical purposes in advancing the NIMASA mandate.
Mobereola said Agu deserves great recognition for the facility that today houses the Regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and other relevant departments and units of the agency.
A recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), Agu was the Director General of NMA from 2000 to 2005.
