NIMASA and Delta Community opt for Alternative Dispute Resolution in CSR Dispute.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative have agreed to resolve a dispute through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). This decision was made during a session before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, which is investigating a petition against NIMASA.
The Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative had filed a petition, accusing NIMASA of neglecting to establish educational and skills acquisition projects in coastal communities, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments. However, during the hearing on Tuesday, both parties expressed their willingness to seek a peaceful resolution through ADR.
Committee Chairman Mike Etaba highlighted the proactive approach of NIMASA, led by its Director of Administration and Human Resources, Isichei Osamgbi, in seeking an amicable settlement. He emphasized the committee’s support for ADR, noting that it is a preferred method for resolving such disputes.
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“NIMASA team met me before the sitting, and we have agreed that this matter be handled through ADR for proper implementation,” Etaba stated. “If there is anything we encourage, it is ADR. And if parties agree with ADR, they will go into it.”
George Wilcox Noah, Chairman of the Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, reiterating that the community was not in conflict with NIMASA. “I am very much satisfied with the resolution since it aligns with the agency’s plea. This agreement shows that we are not at loggerheads with NIMASA. We are not antagonizing the agency,” Noah said.
He further assured that the community would maintain peaceful coexistence with NIMASA, which would contribute to mitigating sea piracy in the Niger Delta region and the Gulf of Guinea.
This agreement marks a significant step towards resolving the dispute and fostering cooperation between NIMASA and the coastal communities.
