Barrister Matthew Egbadon Legal Adviser, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr Patrick Apkobolokemi Director-General NIMASA and Captain Baiyee Suleiman Consultant to the marine waste management plant of African Circle Pollution management company when NIMASA management visited the plant at the Snake Island in Lagos.

The Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has restated its commitment to the effective implementation of the provisions of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Marpol 73/78 Convention as it relates to the management of the nation’s Marine Environment.

NIMASA’s Director General, Mr. Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi stated this when he led the Agency’s Management on a facility tour of the operations of the African Circle Pollution Management limited located in the Free Zone Enterprise on the Snake Island in Lagos.

The DG’S visit to the African Circle was part of efforts to ensure that the provisions of the IMO MARPOL 1973/78 Conventions as relates to adequacy of Port Reception facilities in the country are complied with.

Mr Akpobolokemi disclosed that the Agency will support Public Private Partnership model to facilitate effective management of Ship generated waste within the Nigerian marine and Coastal environment adding that a roadmap on Marine Waste Management in Nigeria will soon be made public.

He said that Regulations of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Nigerian laws were taken into consideration in arriving at the road map structured to provide the ideal platform to grow the business of Managing Waste generated in the Nigerian Maritime Environment.

While commending the Management of African Circle for the lagos operations which he described as the best in West Africa, the DG advised them to work at improving operations in Port Hacourt, Calabar, Warri and Onne Ports.

He noted that investment in Waste Management in the Nigerian Marine Environment will not only improve the country’s rating in the global maritime industry, but also have a multiplier effect of employment generation in Nigeria amongst others.

“It is to the benefit of Nigerians that this Public Private Partnership model of managing waste in our Marine Environment is sustained and encouraged to grow rapidly. We are commited to the growth of this industry. Because if you look at the manpower development, employment generation, economic activities, besides the fact that they help us meet IMO requirements in Managing Waste in our Marine Environent you will agree with me that it is worth Government support to ensure growth.” he said.

Mr. Akpobolokemi also declared that the Agency will look at issues based on IMO regulations and Nigerian laws in working out the guidelines that will provide the ideal environment to grow the business of managing waste generated in the Nigerian marine environment.

The NIMASA helmsman assured that the Agency will ensure an annual audit of the facility so as to maintain IMO standard adding that their level of compliance with the Nigerian Local Content Act is quite encouraging.

Consultant to the African Circle Pollution Management limited, Captain Baiyee Suleiman commended Mr Akpobolokemi for being the first DG of NIMASA to visit the facility. He said that over 100,000 tones of both solid and oily wastes are processed daily at the facility in Lagos. Capt. Suleman also said that only port and habour operations are covered at the moment adding that work is in progress to provide effective coverage for other areas.

He said that the company is working at improving the local content of the project “we are working at importing a sewage plant and then cloan others locally. This is part of our desire to improve on the local content of the project thereby creating more jobs for Nigerians” he said

On disposal of sewage waste received from Vessels in Lagos, Captain Suleiman said that the company hands it over to Lagos State Government for onward disposal in an environmentally friendly manner.