Reps Committee Urges NIMASA To Release N200bn to Maritime Academy Approved For Capital Project
By Ovie Edomi
Hon. Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to release N200 billion approved for key projects at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, in Akwa Ibom state.
The Committee’s chairman, Hon. Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, disclosed this when the Director General of NIMASA, Dr Dayo Mobereola appeared before the Committee for the 2025 budget defence session.
The Committee disclosed this against NIMASA’s revenue target of N774.66 billion in the 2025 financial year. The NIMASA DG who was represented by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chidi Offodile, said after deductions, including federal remittances and maritime fund contributions, N264.96 billion would be available for operations. Offodile while talking about
implementing the 2024 budget, disclosed that “NIMASA projected N467.4 billion in revenue for 2024, actual collections amounted to N370 billion, indicating a 79% performance rate while recurrent expenditures reached 87% of budgeted allocations, as capital spending stood at 51% implementation”.
The Committee’s chairman, Hon. Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, however raised concerns about NIMASA’s internally generated revenue (IGR) that was no longer remitted 100 per cent. According to him, “there is a significant fiscal shift under the present administration, requiring NIMASA to remit 50% of its IGR to the federal treasury”
According to the Committee, the development was “a significant departure from the previous policy that allowed the agency to retain all IGR”.
The committee also questioned the credibility of doubling the revenue target, given the N97 billion shortfall in 2024.
It further raised the alarm on the rise in personnel costs, from N42 billion in 2024 to N73 billion in 2025, and queried whether this was due to mass recruitment or inflated benefits.
Also, the Committee questioned how NIMASA plans to implement ₦89 billion in capital projects when 50% of its revenue will be deducted at source.
In his response, the executive director said all budgets are projections subject to economic variables.
He however attributed the ambitious 2025 targets to anticipated oil production increases, enhanced revenue automation, and operational scale-up. According to the NIMASA representative, “We are confident that with better systems and strategic partnerships, we can meet these targets”. He further listed freight levies, offshore waste management, sea protection and ship registration as NIMASA’s primary revenue sources, alongside new gains expected from automation, the rollout of a modular floating dock and collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard
While the Hon. Khadija Abba-Ibrahim led House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration the panel awaits the release of N200 billion approved for key projects at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, the Committee has adopted the budget presented to the House in plenary for approval.