The multi-million naira modular floating dock procured by the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is in good shape, the NIMASA Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh has said.
When put to use, the floating dockyard is expected to bridge the dry docking facilities gap in the Nigerian maritime industry as well as raise additional revenue for the government.
Jamoh who dropped the hint when he met with the Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Dockyard Limited, Rear Admiral Kohath Levi in Lagos commended the Nigerian Navy for hosting and securing the floating dock since its arrival in the country.
The MIMASA helmsman who was on a working visit to the facility commended the Nigerian Navy for its continued support to the agency over the years.
His words: “We appreciate the Nigerian Navy for making available its facility for the floating dockyard since arriving Nigeria. This has ensured absolute security of this facility and as we all can see, the dockyard is in good shape.”
A statement made available to Maritime Bits and signed by NIMASA Assistant Director, Public Relations, Mr. Edward Osagie said Jamoh used the opportunity to undertake what he called “an on-the-spot assessment of the floating dock noting that efforts to put the facility into use have reached an advanced stage.
According to the statement, Rear Admiral Kohath Levi assured that the Nigerian Navy would continue to support the agency, bearing in mind that safeguarding the Nigerian territorial waters is a collective responsibility of all critical stakeholders.
The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission ICRC had described the floating dockyard as a profitable investment by Government.
The Federal Government had given approval for the Transportation Ministry to deploy the asset on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis and NIMASA is working in conjunction with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to utilize facilities at the Continental Shipyard in Apapa, Lagos.
