Erudite marine specialist, Prof Sule Abiodun is being considered for the coveted job of Director-General at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), according to Professor Yusuf Magaji.
Magaji also stated that while Professor Sule is the best man for the job, the Presidency should dismiss any claims against the marine expert, despite the fact that he has never been invited or indicted by any security or financial authority.
He said Sule is in the firm nerve to reposition the sector and assist in the creation of a more robust and impressive agency aimed at recovering Nigeria’s pride of place in the international community based on his antecedents, especially against the backdrop of the creation of a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by Mr. President.
Sule has two PhDs, one in Maritime Technology Management and one in Fisheries and Aquaculture, according to Professor Magaji. The learned Professor also holds a Master of Public Administration degree and a number of professional qualifications, including a Marine Navigation Certificate and a Joint Scandinavian Surveyor Certificate.
He said the maritime expert’s qualifications also include a rigorous M.Sc degree in Maritime (Nautical Science) from WMU Malmoe, Sweden, obtained in December, 1994. He was sponsored by the IMO, European Union and the then Nigeria National Maritime Authority (NMA), in 1991.
“As an IMO scholar, with over 110 publications and textbooks to his credit, Sule will be in a position to help Nigeria into Category C which has eluded the country for a long time due to non implementation of Conventions of which Nigeria is a party.
“Sule’s proposed agenda, if approved by the President, will include a focus on strengthening key sectors of the maritime industry, manpower development in Nigeria by conserving scarce forex, Flag State and Port State management, Marine Environmental Management based MARPOL Convention 1973 as Amended and cabotage drives for better IGR; while aiming to improve existing aquaculture programs, particularly in the marine culture and freshwater domains, and revitalise Deep Sea Capture Fisheries and Fisheries Value Chain programs to strengthen Nigeria’s food security,” he added.
According to Magaji, who claims to have known Sule, he plans to work with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) to install innovative post-harvest technologies like the Thiaroye smoking kiln to reduce post-harvest losses among fishermen.
His agenda also includes the second phase of Fisheries National Stock Assessments, which will analyse species availability and health conditions in Nigerian coastal waters.
In addition, he intends to revive dormant Artisanal fisheries training programs and assemble correct data on Fisheries Artisans and Marine fishing to establish their economic contributions.
Prof. Abiodun Sule is currently the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research in Lagos. He is a qualified Marine Captain as well as an accomplished maritime expert. He recently led 6 Scientists from West African countries to Sea on data gathering and analysis on the health of Nigeria Ocean and Brackish waters a programme sponsored by POGO, Namibia among others.