President Bola Tinubu has appointed a top technocrat and seasoned administrator, Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar, as the new chairman of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA).
According to an issued statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, yesterday, the appointment of the Kaduna State-born legal, administrative and financial expert, politician, was part of the appointments of chairpersons for 42 federal organisations and a Secretary to the Board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services,
The new NIMASA chairman, Abubakar, who parades an impressive CV of leadership and administration that cuts across political, private and public institutions, is also a big player in the political turf of Kaduna.
Abubakar, a legal practitioner, is a former Principal Partner/Legal, at Yusuf Abubakar & Co. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration (financial management) of the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), the International Bar Association, and the International Law Societies of London.
He served in Kaduna state government as a Commissioner, Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and member, Kaduna State Economic Council between 1998 and 1999, Commissioner of Health and Social Development, 1992 – 1992.
Abubakar is also a one-time Director-General, Bureau for Lands and Survey, Kaduna State Government, 1994-1997.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has the mandate to regulate and promote maritime safety, security, and pollution prevention in Nigeria; ensure the safety of ships, crew, and passengers, as well as the prevention of maritime accidents; prevent and suppress piracy, armed robbery, and other unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation; prevent and control pollution of the marine environment from ships and other sources; and;
regulate and enforce standards, among others.
His appointment has been described as a masterstroke aimed at revitalizing NIMASA, with stakeholders hopeful for enhanced compliance, security, and infrastructural development. They said this decision reflects the president’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s maritime sector, a key driver of economic prosperity.
At NIMASA, Abubakar is expected to leverage his vast experience to boost the agency’s regulatory and developmental roles in Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Established in 2006, NIMASA focuses on developing shipping and regulatory matters related to merchant shipping and seafarers. The Agency oversees shipping licenses, seafarer regulations, and compliance with safety standards in ship construction and navigation.
His appointment takes immediate effect.
