Y Stephen Ubanna
Barely two months after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the recommendation of Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor o Osun state and now minister of Marine and Blue Economy, appointed Akuta Pius Ukeyima, as the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC, to replace , Emmanuel Jime, and Munrudeen Bola Oyebamiji, to take over from George Moghalu, of the Nigerian Inland Water Ways Authority, NIWA, on the recommendation of Adegboyega Oretola , the pendulum appears to have shifted to the Nigerian Ports Authority , NPA and Nigerian Maritime Administration of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency , NIMASA.
The Nigerian President who had spared Mohammed Bello-Koko, and Bashir Jamoh, both Chief Executive Officers, CEOs, of NPA and NIMASA, was said to have tampered with the two maritime agencies Management team by introducing some fresh hands.
Officials of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, FRCN. Who had wanted Jamoh, the NIMASA helmsman and Chudidi Offodile, the agency Executive Director , Finance and Administration may have been disappointed hat their game plan did not work out as planned.
The Leadership of FRCN, had raised alarm over ‘’the inaccuracy and irregularities in the agency audited financial statements for year ended December, 2018 which was said to have concided when Jamoh , the incumbent Director General of the Maritime regulatory Agency was the Executve Director, Finance and Administration.
. The Council had suspended the FRC registration number – FRC/201/CI AND/00000016699 of the NIMASA, Director General and also blocked Offodile, the NIMASA Executive Director, Finance and Administration who has never registered with the council from doing so to show that they lack the capacity to do their jobs and to give the President room to terminate their apointments.
Suffice it to say that the Nigerian President may have shown that he is not guided by such reports in his recent appointments in into the Management team of PPA and NIMASA. Tthe Lagos state born Nigerian President had approved the appointments of Ms Vivian C.Richard Edet, as NPA , new Executive Director Finance and Admin, Engr. Olalekan Badmus, who incidentally had served as Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duities, under the Oyetola’s Administration in Osun state was said to have made the list of the NPA new Management team as Executive Director, Marine and Operations, while Eng. Ibrahim Abba Umar, was appointed the Authority’s Executive Director, , Engineering and Technical services
At NIMASA, where many had expected the President to drop Offodile, the agency incumbent Executive Director , Finance and Administration, particular, the President was said to have retained him for the position because of his alleged impressive profiles over the last three years.
Other appointees into the NIMASA Management team on the recommendation of the minister of Marine and Blue Economy by the President to work with Jamoh, the agency, CEO, were Engr. Tayemi, Executive Director , Operations, and Jibril Abba, Executive Director , Maritime Labour and Cabotage services
According To Ajuri Ngelale, Media Aide to the President had said that the appointments were approved by him with the firm believe that they will expeditiously and efficiently execute on their collective mandate to create the conditions required to significantly raise the contribution of the Marine and Blue Economy sector of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP.
The Presidential Aide also disclosed that the Nigerian President expects the appointees into the Management team of NPA and NIMASA , to contribute in transforming the nation’s economy into ‘’a labour –intensive and inclusive one that would create new opportunities for all Nigerians in accordance with the government New Hope Agenda.
Industry stakeholders are very happy that the Nigerian President has not removed the duo of Bello-Koko and Jamoh, the CEOs of NPA and NIMASA, including Offodile , the NIMASA , Executive Director , Finance and Administration who knows so much about the Blue Economy Project and has kept an accurate record of the fund generated from a surcharge of two percent of the contract sum performed by vessels engaged in coastal trade in Nigerian waters . The was said to have also kept a clean record of the monies generated from tariffs, fines and fines for licenses and waivers , a sum that was said to have been periodically approved by the National Assembly and interests that had accrued from loans from the fund between 2004 and now.
It would be recalled that in December 2022, former President Muhammau Buhari, had approved the disbursement of the slightly over N16 billion and $350 million fund to qualified beneficiaries , as part of the government ‘s Commitment to grow indigenous ship ownership and the country’s maritime industry.
The then Nigerian President has approved the appointment of Union Bank, now Titan Trust Bank , Polaris Bank, United Bank for Africa, UBA, plc , a Pan-African Bank , Zenith Bank and Jaiz Bank to be the primary Lending Institution , PLI, for the disbursement of the fund on the basis of the CVFF Guidelines, 2006 which was said to have made it clear that an applicant for the loan from the Fund shall make an equity contribution of at least 15%, of the total cost of the project while the remaining 85% will be made by NIMASA and the PLIs.
Many believe that that Oyetola, the former Osun state governor who is determined to deliver on the Marine and Blue economy project had known that the disbursement of the slightly over N16 billion and $350 million would have run into a hitch if the duo of Jamoh and Offodile were removed from NIMAS, that he has allowed the two officials of the agency central to the disbursement of the CVFF stay in their respective positions.
mOreso, the minister needs to tap into the experience of the duo, Bello-Koko and Jamoj, who were said to have deep understanding of the Blue Economy project that have wanted to kick them out and bring a novince to replace them which may not be to the advantage of the ministry.
He may hav taken advantage of the Commissioning of the Nigeria’s Seafarers Centre, built by NPA to declare that ‘’it will will help the country’s balance of trae by promoting export , which is crucial to erning foreign exchange and strengthening the value of the local currency.
The NIMASA, boss who is determined to double his efforts to ensure the realization of the Blue Economy project of the Tinubu’s Administration had said that for Nigeria ‘’to earn a portion of the opportunities inherent in the Blue economy resource valued at about $2.5 trillion ‘’there is a need for the country to maintain good maritime security for business investment to thrive.
He had told those that cares to listen that the Blue economy project go beyond shipping, import and export trade but also include fishery, tourism, acquaculture and wind energy, to name but a few.
An elated Jamoh , who could hide his feelings had said that having a good maritime security will ensure that Nigeria will not only struggle to earn a portion of the $2.5 trillion potential of the global blue but also benefit from economy from the estimated 350 million global job opportunities in the blue economy. Vintage Oyetola.
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