The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh is to be honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with the conferment of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
This was disclosed in a conveyance letter to Jamoh from the Office of the Minister, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume with the investiture ceremony scheduled to hold at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja on Monday, 10th October, 2022.
Recall that Jamoh had served the maritime sector as an administrator for over 30 years when he was appointed by Buhari as the Director General of NIMASA in March 2020.
Since his appointment has overseen the successful deployment of the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infra structure otherwise known as the Deep Blue Project which has played a major role in achieving a reduction of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to its barest minimum since 1994 and culminating in Nigeria being removed from the infamous piracy red list by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
NIMASA in a statement signed by its Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie stated that a hallmark of his tenure at the helm of NIMASA has been his institutionalization of collaboration among stakeholders, within and outside the country, to achieve major milestones in the sector.
Continuing, the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits said: ”One notable example of this has been his initiation of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum/Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GOG-MCF/SHADE) which has demonstrated the positive outcomes derived from information sharing among regional and non-regional military forces in achieving a secure maritime space”.
Jamoh was quoted in the statement expressing to gratitude to Buhari for being considered for the honour.
“Words cannot express how humbled I feel to be so considered for the National Honour as an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR). When I began my maritime journey 30 years ago, little did I know that I would be so favoured by almighty Allah to rise to the position of NIMASA Director General, let alone to be considered for one of the highest honours in the land”, Jamoh said.
Besides commending Buhari for the honour, he also thanked the Standing Committee on National Honours Award for deeming him worthy of the honour.
He also expressed appreciation to everyone who had supported him throughout his tenure as NIMASA Director General especially the maritime stakeholders.