By Stephen Ubanna
Dayo Omoberaola, a –one Commissioner of Transportation under Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and now Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, appears to have hit the ground running.
The new NIMASA, Director General, who wants to chart a new course for the agency was aid to have gathered some former Chief Executive officers, CEOs, of the Maritime Regulatory Agency and other industry stakeholders in Lagos, on Thursday, May 9, 2024, where he was said to have assured the industry stakeholders of’’ inclusivity towards the development of the nation’s maritime sector’’.
The NIMASA, high profile event was said to have brought together the likes of Ade Dosumu, Architect Ferdinand Agu, Temisam Oatseye, a Lawyer and all former Chief Executive Officer, CEOs, of the agency, including Tijjani, a former Chairman of the maritime octopus.
. Bashir Jamoh, the immediate past CEO, of the agency, and Dakuku Peterside, another former Director General were said to be unavoidably absent. Recall that during Jamoh’s Administration, Dosumu, an erstwhile CEO, of the agency, according to informed sources was said to be the only former CEO, of the agency who was said to havecome out openly to support him in actualizing his Maritime Safety, Maritime Security and Ship Development agenda, popular, the 3S, in maritime circles.
Mobereola, who do not want to go below what he had met on ground in office, during an interactive section with the industry stakeholders was said to have alluded to the fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who incidentally was a former governor of Lagos state, on the recommendations of Oyetola Adegbeyoga, a former governor of Osun state and now minister of Marine and Blue Economy, had appointed him to pilot the affairs of the nation’s maritime sector for a purpose, urging the industry stakeholders , particular, the former CEOs, to partner with him in developing the maritime sector .
Hear him: it is important that we develop clear objectives, goals and strategies to advance the maritime industry and align with the vision of the Nigerian President and the minister of Marine and Blue Economy to achieve a sustainable maritime sector, stressing that ‘’all efforts should be inclusive and collective’’.
The NIMASA helmsman may have taken a cue from the minister on assumption of office last August, who had called for collective efforts by industry stakeholders to harness the potentials of the thcountry’s maritime sector’’ to organize the NIMASA world class event. The minister may have set a new agenda for both the former and in-coming NIMASA boss, when he pointed out that the country’s maritime sector should move to the next level of ensuring that ‘’the agency implement everything that has been outlined in one Fadipe, his book for’’ the overall benefit of the nation’’.
The minister had stressed the need for an ‘’actionable steps and the implementation of insights from the Fadipe’s book calling for a shift from crude oil dependence to promoting the maritime sector for the country’s benefit as obtained in the Asian country of China, North American country of the United States, US, United Kingdom, Netherlands and other maritime nations.
He was emphatic that ‘’in order to add value to the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, and economic growth,’’ it is expedient that the nation’s maritime sector be given keen attention’’. The new NIMASA, boss may have heard this at the back of his mind when he told the indigenous ship-owners at the Lagos maritime gathering that he is committed ‘’to expediting the automation of the nation’s ship registry’’, a move , he had said ‘’will significantly boost shipping development in Nigeria, the most populous country in the African Continent , by enhancing efficiency and streamlining processes’’.
Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, a retired Merchant Navy Captain and former minister of Transportation during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration, and who was said to have Chairman the Mobereola organized NIMASA talk-shop event , had used the occasion to express the industry’s delight at the appointment of the current NIMASA Director General, whom he had described as ‘’a seasoned and accomplished maritime professional’’.
The former minister of Transportation had said that Moberola’s extensive experience and expertise in maritime activities will be invaluable in ‘’driving the country’s maritime Administration and development of the sector to international standard’’.
He was said to have expressed optimism that under the current Leadership of NIMASA, ‘’Nigeria would make significant strides in promoting ship safety, maritime security, and environmental sustainability in the nation’s waters and the Gulf of Guinea’’.
The former minister may have gladdened the heart of industry stakeholders when he asserted that Mobereola’s dedication ‘’to capacity building will undoubtedly reposition Nigeria as a key player in the global maritime economy’’. He may have given the new NIMASA cause to be cheery when he disclosed that the industry stakeholders are willing ‘’to collaborate with him to succeed and move the sector forward.
He was said to have urged the new NIMASA helmsman who is coming from both the public and the private sectors of the economy, within and outside thee country ‘’to be aware of the impact of technological developments in the Marine and Blue Economy industry in order ‘’ to guide him in the formulation of policies to be developed’’.
He was said to have capped his speech by stating that the industry operators ‘’look forward to working together with the new NIMASA, Director General, to address the challenges ahead and to seize the opportunities that lie before them’’.
The former minister, described as an eloquent speaker, in maritime circles, was said to have also put smiles on the former CEOs of the agency who were present at the event when he ‘’acknowledged their hard work, resilience and determination while in office’’, noting that their commitments had contributed ‘’to the robust teamwork from which the agency and the nation’s maritime industry, at large are benefitting.
Emeka Akabogu, a Maritime Lawyer, in his presentation, titled Marine and Blue Economy: Navigating the promised land during the occasion, was said to have proposed various reforms including policy and agenda verification , enhanced data and technology utilization , minimum industry standards, deliberate recruitment of professionals, empowerment protocols, development of standard shipping development courses and accountability measures for NIMASA and the industry that should be carried out by Mobereola and his Management team. The maritime Lawyer was said to have also emphasized the need for routine meetings based on clear identifiable milestones to drive accountability and progress for the sector.
Vicky Hastrup. President of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria, STOAN, who was said to have stressed the importance of dockworkers in the nation’s maritime sector, noted that a country ‘’where there are no dockworkers, shows that ‘’there are no ships, insisting that the training of dockworkers is critical for the industry to grow.
Adewale Adeyanju, President Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, MWUN, had corroborated what the STOAN president had said and further stressing the importance of continually training dockworkers and ensuring a decent work agenda, in line with the Maritime Labour Convention, MLC, 2006.
Aminu Umar, who was said to have spoken on behalf of the ship-owners Association of Nigeria was said to have emphasized the need for further discussions and interactions between NISA and the industry stakeholders regarding international advancements in the nation’s maritime industry. Aminu, who could not his feelings was said to have urged the new NIMASA boss ‘’to consider the independence of the country’s ship registry as obtained in other International Maritime Organization, IMO, member countries’’.
Mrs. Tosan Emore-Edodo, who was said to have spoken on behalf of the various women’s associations in the nation’s maritime sector, like WISTA, WIMOWCA, and WIPLAT, was said to have taken advantage of the opportunity provided for her to speak during the occasion ‘’ to canvas for increased participation of women in the nation’s maritime sector’’. She was said to also called for support in ‘’promoting advocacy efforts’’.
Mustapha Hassan, a Rear Admiral and Flag Officer Commanding, FOC, Western Naval Command, was said to have made a presentation from the Nigerian Maritime Law Association, Association of Master Mariners, Ship Building and Ship Repair Associations, among others, with a promise ‘’to strengthen the robust working relationship with NIMASA’’.
