In a bid to reach an amicable decision on the issues that prompted a public petition against it at the National Assembly, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative have resolved to adopt Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
This was sequel to the public petition written by the community against the management of NIMASA at the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.
It is on record that the committee was investigating a petition brought against NIMASA where the Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative alleged that NIMASA failed to establish educational and skills acquisition projects in the coastal communities as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR).
NIMASA in a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie and made available to Maritime Bits stated that when the matter was called up on Wednesday, both parties agreed to seek peaceful settlement through Alternative Dispute Resolution.
According to the statement, the Chairman of the committee, Mike Etaba said NIMASA team led by its Director, Administration and Human Resources, Mr. Isichei Osamgbi had reached out to the committee earlier seeking to resolve the matter through ADR.
He maintained that the move is well appreciated and encouraged by his Public Petitions Committee.
His words: “NIMASA team met me before the sitting and we have agreed that this matter be handled through ADR for proper implementation. If there is anything we encourage it is ADR. And if parties agree with ADR they will go into it.”
Etaba expressed delight over the harmonious agreement between both parties, stressing ‘there is nothing like harmony’.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative, Mr. George Wilcox Noah said he was satisfied with the resolution, adding that the harmonious agreement goes to show that the community is not at any loggerhead with NIMASA.
“I am very much satisfied with the resolution since it goes in line with the plea from the agency, just to show that we are not in any loggerhead with the agency. We are not antagonizing the agency”, he added.
Noah assured that going forward, there would be peaceful coexistence between the community and NIMASA, and that sea piracy that affects both the Niger Delta region and the Gulf of Guinea would be mitigated.
