NIMASA: FG Begins Probe of Projects Undertaken by Sacked DG, Akpobolokemi

The Federal has commenced probe of projects undertaken by the ex Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi

The probe is being undertaken following President Muhammadu Buhari’s order to the Ministry of Transport to evaluate all such projects undertaken by the ex NIMASA boss who is currently under investigation by anti-graft agent for some alleged unwholesome transactions during his tenure between 2010 and when he was relieved of his job in July 2015.

Deputy Director, Public Relations of NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, who confirmed the development, said already, the Ministry has constituted a committee to carry out verification of all such projects which are currently being executed by the agency.

Hajia Tumaka who would rather portray the development as routine said the committee which has members drawn from the Federal Ministry of Transport, Federal Ministry of Works and the General Services Unit of NIMASA is expected to carry out an evaluation of all projects currently being executed by NIMASA with a view to ascertaining their percentage completion in relation to funds already released.

Tumaka further quoted the acting DG of the agency, Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro as saying “the evaluation has become necessary given the limited resources available to the Agency which require the prioritization of projects execution so as to avoid the situation where projects are being abandoned.

“We need to set our priorities right as far as project execution is concerned by strategically executing projects even in a phased manner so as to avoid a situation where projects that should have been very beneficial to the development of the maritime industry are abandoned due to poor planning”, the DG said.

Mr. Jauro who lauded the wisdom of the Transport Ministry in including officers from the Federal Ministries of Transport and Works said the development is to make sure that the necessary experts are involved in the process with a view to providing a report that will reflect the correct state of the projects.

The committee which has two weeks within which to conclude its assignment and report to the ministry is expected to visit the project sites of the Nigeria Maritime University, NIMASA Shipyard and Dockyard, NIMASA Science and Technical College and permanent sites of the six Institutes of Maritime Studies in six Nigerian Universities amongst others.

Alex Akao