UPDATE; NIMASA to Spend Over ₦3.5 Billion for Office Renovations, Vehicle Maintenance in 2024 Budget

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has unveiled a substantial allocation for its 2024 budget, with over ₦3.5 billion earmarked for office renovations, vehicle maintenance, and operational expenses. The Director-General of NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola, presented the budget to the National Assembly, which has already given its approval.

According to the documents obtained by our correspondent, the agency plans to spend a staggering ₦2.4 billion for the maintenance of power generators and the purchase of fuel. Of this, ₦300 million will be set aside for generator upkeep alone. This allocation is more than 30% of what was spent in the previous year.

Mobereola, a close associate of the President, is said to have had a significant influence in securing approval for this budget. He has been linked with high-level appointments, including his tenure as the Managing Director of LAMATA, Lagos State’s transportation agency, from 2002 to 2015.

The budget further reveals that NIMASA intends to allocate ₦1.4 billion for minor repairs and day-to-day operations, along with a contingency fund for unforeseen expenses. Additionally, the agency has set aside ₦700 million for the purchase of fuel for its fleet of vehicles, and another ₦280 million for vehicle maintenance every three months, which adds up to over ₦1.1 billion annually.

The documents also show that NIMASA will spend ₦300 million on the maintenance of its vehicle fleet, which includes driver uniforms, license renewals, and the procurement of new vehicle plates. Furthermore, ₦900 million has been allocated for the maintenance and operational costs of the agency’s office in London, despite the fact that ₦500 million was spent on the same office in the previous year.

In addition to these allocations, NIMASA’s operational budget (Imprest) has been increased from ₦600 million in 2023 to ₦760 million for 2024. This marks a significant rise in the agency’s running costs.

While these budget allocations raise concerns over fiscal management and transparency, the agency’s focus on routine operations and maintenance continues to raise eyebrows, given the current economic climate and President Bola Tinubu’s directive to curb wasteful spending across federal agencies.