Diri outlines NIMASA’s potentials to growth of Bayelsa economy

CCB Chair commends Buhari’s policy thrust on accountability, probity

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has said his administration cherishes its relationship with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), as the maritime sector possesses great potential for the economic advancement of the state.

Governor Diri, who stated this at a dinner organised for the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Yusuf Jamoh, and his delegation in Government House, Yenagoa, noted that the coastal nature of the state made its partnership with the agency imperative.

A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying that the visit marked a beginning in the relationship between the state and NIMASA.

Governor Diri noted that oil wealth would not last forever, hence the need to turn attention to the maritime sector, which, he said, held great potential for the state’s economic advancement.

He stressed that the agency was important to the state and that both parties can achieve so much working together and expressed the hope that with Jamoh’s wealth of experience, Bayelsa would experience true prosperity.

The state chief executive tasked youths to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the partnership to become self-reliant rather than engage in social vices.

Responding, Jamoh commended Governor Diri for the reception accorded him and his team and congratulated him on his victory at the Supreme Court, describing it as divine.

He commended Diri for his foresight, which he said, had led him to look beyond oil, saying such vision was in line with NIMASA’s mandate and pledged to work with the state government to diversify its revenue base.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of Harnessing Nigeria’s Maritime Assets, a book authored by Dr. Jamoh, to the governor.

MEANWHILE, Chairman, Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Prof. Isah Mohammed, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s policy thrust on probity, accountability, and transparency in conducting government business was encouraging.

He made the assertion in Yenagoa, during a two-day workshop on Strict Compliance With Assets Declaration and Code of Conduct for Public Officials, organised by Go-Getters Consulting Limited.

Mohammed, who was represented by South-South Zonal representative of the CCB, Dr. Emmanuel Attah, said the Bureau’s mandate had become pragmatic and momentous following the political will of President Buhari administration to make the fight against corruption a cardinal agenda of his government.

“The President’s policy thrust on probity, accountability, and transparency as a way of doing government business is not only encouraging but gives the necessary impetus and enthusiasm for us to position ourselves properly, as appropriate in the campaign,” he said.