Chairman of the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Khadija Bukar-Ibrahim, has called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to ensure transparency, accountability and tangible results in its 2026 budget implementation. The directive was issued Tuesday in Abuja during the agency's budget defence session before the committee. Ms Bukar-Ibrahim commended NIMASA for its role in maritime safety, security and regulatory oversight, stressing that the sector is vital to Nigeria's economic growth and revenue generation. She emphasized that the committee would scrutinize spending plans, particularly in areas like maritime insecurity, capacity development and institutional efficiency. The lawmaker demanded detailed breakdowns of projects aimed at improving maritime safety, education and human capacity, as well as updates on ongoing capital projects and their expected impact. She reiterated the need for prudent financial management aligned with national priorities, saying, "As a committee, our responsibility is to ensure that the proposed budget reflects prudent financial management and delivers measurable value to Nigerians." NIMASA's Director-General, Dayo Mobereola, told lawmakers that full automation of the agency's operations and revenue collection systems began in 2025 following Federal Executive Council approval. He said the move is intended to stop leakages and ensure transparent revenue remittance. On the relaunched Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), Mr Mobereola confirmed the scheme restarted in January and has received about 60 applications from indigenous shipping firms. A new bank-driven framework, he said, requires financial institutions to assess risks and guarantee repayment to prevent past mismanagement.
NIMASA's claim of automating revenue collection since 2025 has yet to show up in verifiable port receipts or public audits. If the CVFF now has 60 applicants under stricter banking controls, it suggests previous failures were due to political interference, not lack of demand. This budget scrutiny may pressure NIMASA to finally prove it can manage funds without waste. Without independent verification, however, oversight remains performative.
