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 came during a hearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.

The committee was addressing a petition from the Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative, which accused NIMASA of failing to implement educational and skills acquisition projects in the coastal communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). During the session on Tuesday, both parties opted for a peaceful settlement through ADR.

Chairman of the committee, Mike Etaba, praised the move towards ADR, noting that NIMASA, represented by Director of Administration and Human Resources, Isichei Osamgbi, had proactively sought to resolve the matter amicably. “NIMASA team met me before the sitting and we have agreed that this matter be handled through ADR for proper implementation. If there is anything we encourage it is ADR. And if parties agree with ADR, they will go into it,” Etaba said.

George Wilcox Noah, Chairman of the Abade-Toru Manga Community Development Initiative, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, emphasizing the community’s willingness to cooperate with NIMASA. “I am very much satisfied with the resolution since it goes in line with the plea from the agency, just to show that we are not in any loggerhead with the agency. We are not antagonizing the agency,” Noah stated.

Noah also assured that the agreement would foster peaceful coexistence between the community and NIMASA, contributing to the reduction of sea piracy in both the Niger Delta region and the Gulf of Guinea.

The resolution is seen as a positive step towards addressing the community’s concerns while maintaining a harmonious relationship with NIMASA.