NIMASA could not account for N363bn – Amaechi

Transportation Minister Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi yesterday alleged that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) could not account for the sum of N63billion it generated in 2015, adding that federal government may be compelled to send Bill to the National Assembly to repeal the Act that sets up the agency.

The minister also alleged that the sum of N300billion intervention fund meant to encourage individuals to buy vessels by the Goodluck Jonathan administration to encourage investors was equally embezzled.

Amaechi also alleged that the agency spends monies it generate without recourse to financial regulations and accountability.

The minister stated this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, stressing that NIMASA has developed a penchant and notoriety for outsourcing its core responsibility with impunity.

He pointed out that NIMASA was basically set up to provide safetHe but expressed worries that the agency that there was no equipment at the Agency’s search and rescue unit meant to monitor movement of vessels and provide treatment for injured personnel.

His words, “Currently, the way NIMASA is, if you look at it very well, it was worse in the last administration. It was as if it was established just for the purpose of collecting money and nothing more. What we need to do is to ensure that NIMASA discharges its core responsibilities.

“If NIMASA failed to outsource its core responsibility then it has no business existing. If it is just to collect money from individuals, anybody can do that. We can hire a tax collector to collect money from maritime operators on behalf of Federal Ministry of transport.

“So, it is either NIMASA sit up and carry out its own responsibility or we come to the National Assembly to repeal the Act setting it up and allow the Department of marine security in the ministry of transportation, discharge the responsibility currently being discharged by NIMASA.