The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has said the agency has the capacity to reposition the economy of the country from its present situation.
Peterside stated this during the courtesy visit of Executive members of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its Chairman, Mr Deji Elumoye, to his office in Lagos.
The director-general said that the crash in the world price of crude oil had brought Nigeria under a recession economy.
He, however, said the agency would explore all available opportunities to move the country out of recession.
Peterside said maritime industry was a melting point of all professionals.
“We have Accountants, Lawyers, Engineers, Economists and Mariners.
“The sector has what it takes to move the country forward and we will make use of all available opportunities to bring back the economy, ‘’the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the director-general as saying.
He commended the delegates of the Lagos State Council of NUJ for paying the agency a visit and assured that they would continue to rely on them for passing information to Nigerians.
Peterside said the agency would collaborate with the union to move the country, adding that there was need to explore available growth opportunities in the country.
The director-general said the union should count on the agency for assistance, adding that NUJ had the responsibility of projecting the agency.
Earlier, Elumoye had sought the collaboration of the agency in capacity building of its members.
The chairman said that this would create a good atmosphere for reporting the agency.
He said that the union had observed a lot of improvement in maritime sector since Peterside assumed office.
“We have been observing your personality since you became the Commissioner for Works in Rivers State in 2007.
“We have continued to follow your profile since you are appointed the director-general of NIMASA and we are happy to tell you that you are doing well, ‘’ NAN quotes Elumoye as saying.
The chairman said the union was willing to collaborate with the director-general because he was doing well in the agency.
Elumoye, however, seized the opportunity to invite the director-general to an NUJ seminar which was scheduled to take place on Jan. 5, 2017 in Badagry.
Members of the state council who accompanied the chairman on courtesy visit included: the Vice Chairman, Mr Babatunde Jimoh, Treasurer of the union, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, the Financial Secretary, Mr Samuel Dada and others. (NAN)