THE Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has lauded the election of Dakuku Adol Peterside, director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, as the new chairman and president of the Association of African Maritime Administrations, AAMA, on Friday, April 21, as well deserved.

The party in a congratulatory statement issued on Monday, April 24, in Port Harcourt, the party described Peterside’s election at the Third AAMA Conference, held in Abuja, the Nigeria capital, as a testimony to his exceptional leadership qualities.

“Dr. Peterside, who was the APC governorship candidate during the 2015 polls, is an astute and seasoned administrator with a Midas touch who has repositioned and turned around the fortunes of NIMASA within one year of his appointment as the DG of the Agency. We are, therefore, not surprised that Maritime Administrators from 32 countries in Africa have found him worthy of piloting the affairs of AAMA for the next one year,” Rivers APC said in a statement signed by Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, state chairman.

In the same vein, the party noted that Peterside, a former ranking member of the Federal House of Representatives, has as NIMASA DG demonstrated sterling leadership qualities acknowledged by African and world leaders. “He has in so short a time made NIMASA an institutionalised institution with the right structure, the right work ethics; an institution which Nigerians are proud of. Today, NIMASA is a model of reference on the continent of Africa, an agency that understands that it is set up to serve the Nigerian people,” the statement said.

It further commended Peterside, who has within one year ensured the full implementation and enforcement of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security, ISPS, code in the nation’s ports, and shut three jetties and port facilities for non-compliance with the provisions of the ISPS Code.

“NIMASA under Peterside’s watch has commenced the full implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003, also known as the Cabotage Act, and forged strategic partnerships with the Nigerian Air Force as well as other naval assets to patrol and monitor the country’s waterways with a view to enhancing maritime security by decisively tackling piracy and criminality on the high seas,” the statement said.

The party went further to state that, President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria captured the mood and minds of Nigerians in his congratulatory message to the Director General of the NIMASA, when he said: “Peterside’s unanimous election is not only a personal honour and affirmation of confidence in his ability to lead AAMA, but also places Nigeria in a pivotal position to rally other maritime administrations in collaboration with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) towards safer global maritime activities”.

The party said it was in support of the president for encouraging performance under Peterside especially in the fight against sea piracy through inter-agency cooperation and said that his new position would further provide him with even bigger platform to forge ahead in doing the nation proud by meeting the objectives of the AAMA.

“We thank President Buahri and Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the Minister of Transportation for their support to this gem and revolutionary leader that have made us all proud by becoming the first Nigerian to head such an international organisation”, the party stated.

The party also commended Peterside for proving himself a worthy ambassador of the party and Rivers State, expressed confidence that he would equally acquit himself well in his new position as Africa’s number one maritime administrator.

—  Apr 25, 2017 @ 14:52 GMT