Shake-up in NIMASA as new DG redeploys directors

The new acting Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro, has shaken up the agency, redeploying a good number of departmental heads.

Hallmark reliably gathered that the agency’s Deputy Director/Head Public Relations, Isichei Osamgbi, was one of those affected by the shake-up.

“He is not the only one,” a competent source disclosed. “Several other people were also affected,” the source added.

Jauro on Monday formally took over from Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi as NIMASA Acting DG at a brief handover ceremony in NIMASA’s head office in Lagos.

Obi had been announced for the position last week via a statement signed by Osamgbi but was removed after four days by the presidency on the excuse that Jauro first reported for work even though both were employed the same day as executive directors.

Jauro until his appointment was the NIMASA Executive Director, Finance and Administration, and is expected to be in charge until a substantive Director General is appointed.

It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had terminated the appointment of the former director-general of the agency, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi, on July 16.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said the termination of Akpobolokemi’s appointment takes immediate effect.

“He is to hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior officer in the agency who will remain in charge until a new director-general is appointed,” the statement had said.