President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sacked the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi.
The former NIMASA boss was directed to hand over to the most senior officer in the agency who will remain in charge until a new Director-General is appointed.Akpobolemi whose tenure at Nigeria’s maritime regulatory agency has been saddled with controversies was expected.
NIMASA under the leadership of Akpobolemi had become a major source of slush funds for carrying out discreet endeavors during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The former NIMASA DG was reportedly the main sponsor of series of televisions documentaries through which hate messages about key opposition figures, were aired before the 2015 general elections.
Akpolobemi has been in the news over various allegations of fraud in and mismanagement of NIMASA since he resumed office.
The appointment of Akpobolokemi head NIMASA in 2010 was considered one of the most controversial appointments made by former President Jonathan.
It was reported that Akpobolokemi, did not possess the necessary qualifications to occupy the office of DG of NIMASA as stated in Sections 6 & 7 of the Act establishing the agency.
According to the Act, the DG of NIMASA should possess “relevant experience and capacity applicable to maritime administration, recognized expert knowledge, qualification and experience in one or more of the following fields.”
It was gathered that Akpobolokemi was nominated by a group of former Niger Delta militants led by Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
Former President Jonathan however turned deaf ears to the allegations of mismanagement and corruption that followed Akpobolokemi to re-appoint him in October 2014 for another five year tenure which was cut short by his sack on Thursday.
In a related development, the Chairman of the Governors Forum and Zamfara state Governor, Abdulaziz Yari has queried revenue generating agencies such as NIMASA, NPA and the NCC over failure to remit revenue generated to the federation account as required by the constitution.
