The Traffic

NIMASA Elevates 9 Deputy Directors to Directors, Promotes 234 Other Staff in Major Shake-up

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced a sweeping round of promotions, elevating nine Deputy Directors to the rank of Directors alongside 234 other staff members across various cadres. The development, which was ratified by the Governing Board of the agency, underscores management’s renewed drive to reward merit and strengthen its internal leadership structure.

A statement issued on Sunday by Osagie Edward, NIMASA’s Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, revealed that the promotion exercise also saw 30 Assistant Directors elevated to Deputy Directors and 35 Chief Officers promoted to Assistant Directors. In addition, 169 staff members were advanced to the next grade level, reflecting a broad-based uplift in the agency’s workforce.

New Faces at the Top

The nine new Directors include seasoned administrators and technocrats drawn from across the agency’s operational spectrum. They are:

Mrs. Moji Jimoh, Coordinator, Abuja Liaison Office

Dr. Odunayo Ani, Director, Internal Audit

Mrs. Nneka Obianyor, Special Adviser to the DG

Mrs. Biodun Fatade, Director, Procurement

Dr. Oma Ofodile

Ms. Gloria Anyasodo

Mr. Abdulahi Yelwa

Mr. Umar Buba

Mr. Umar Ibrahim Sidi

Their appointments mark a significant strengthening of NIMASA’s leadership team as it continues to steer Nigeria’s maritime industry through an evolving global landscape.

DG Mobereola Reaffirms Merit-Based Progression

While congratulating the newly promoted officers, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reiterated his administration’s commitment to staff welfare, fairness, and merit-driven career advancement.

“Our administration is committed to improved staff welfare. This promotion exercise is strictly merit-based, and we expect staff to reciprocate by rededicating themselves to higher productivity,” Mobereola said.

He emphasized that the exercise was not only a reward for hard work but also a call to service, charging the beneficiaries to “rededicate themselves to excellence in service delivery and the ideals of the Agency.”

Institutional Growth and Staff Motivation

The development is expected to boost morale within NIMASA, as the promotions cut across different directorates and grade levels, ensuring inclusivity. For an agency tasked with regulating and promoting maritime safety, security, and shipping development, the reinforcement of its human capital is seen as a critical step in meeting its mandate.

Mobereola further assured that staff welfare would remain a top priority, noting that “a motivated workforce is central to the agency’s vision of becoming a world-class maritime administration.”

Looking Ahead

With these promotions, stakeholders say the agency has once again demonstrated its commitment to building an efficient leadership pipeline that can respond to Nigeria’s growing maritime ambitions. Observers believe that the newly elevated officials, many of whom have extensive experience in the sector, will be instrumental in driving reforms, strengthening governance, and positioning Nigeria as a maritime hub in West Africa.

The latest promotion exercise follows a broader pattern in NIMASA of aligning internal structures with global maritime best practices, while also rewarding loyalty and commitment among its staff.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna