Agency Chiefs   Pledge Their Support To CIOTA,To Raise Nigeria’s Transportation To International Standard

B Stephen Ubanna

Bashir Jamoh, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and President,  Chartered Institute of Transportation, CIOTA, who was recently , honoured  by President Muhammadu Buhari , with the OFR, award, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, over his outstanding performance in transforming the nation’s maritime sector, has every reason to be happy.

This because of the support, he has continued to receive from Heads of other government agencies, to partner with HIM in the agency anti-piracy war. His Leadership of CIOTA, was said to have also attracted   the attention of Lt. General Yahaya Farouk, led Nigerian Army.

Lt. General Farouq, the Army Chief, may have taken advantage of the Institute, fourth National Summit, at the FCT,   to pour  accolades on Jamoh, the CIOTA, President, promising  ‘’to support  the growth and improvement  of the country’s transportation  sector  to international standards’’. 

Ofodile , ED, Finance And Admin, NIMASA, And Others At CIOTA Summit

The Army General, who was said to have been represented at the CIOTA summit by Maj.Gen. E. Akerejola, had expressed the army willingness ‘’to collaborate with the Institute to achieve its feat in repositioning the nation’s transportation sector. Giving the many  sectors of the nation’s economy which the CIOTA  activities touches on   ranging from facilitating  International Trade,  supporting food security, enabling  industrial and infrastructural  development , may have informed why Lt. Gen. Farouq, through Maj. Gen. Akerejola, his Representative at the summit , had ‘’commended’’ Jamoh, the CIOTA president and his team for their good job.

Lt. Gen. Farouq, who was said to have alluded to the theme of the 2022, summit of the Institute: Transport Safety and Security Administration in Nigeria, described it as timely and an important aspect of the nation’s transportation sector which had been overlooked over the years by many including the transport Professionals and the academia.

Giving an insight of what he knows about the nation’s  Transportation sector,  he had said that ‘’over the years  , it has witnessed  series  of issues  and challenges ranging from  poor infrastructure, poor regulations, limited specialized Professional training  institutions, lack of effective  and efficient transport policies, intra industry squabbles, among transport Professionals, ethical behaviours to poor working condition. This may have informed why he has assured the Jamoh and his team of the Army’s resolve’’ to support the Institute wherever necessary’’.

In apparent response to the Army Chief glowing tribute to  Jamoh, the CIOTA president Samuel Adewumi, who had read his prepared speech at the summit,  had told the  Army Chief that the team could achieve that much in the Institute within the short period in office because of ‘’the renewed advocacy, vigorous membership drive and Certification’’.  

 Adewumi, had said that the theme for the 202, summit was carefully chosen as’’ it focuses on Safety and Security on all modes of transportation’’. The CIOTA, boss had stressed’’ the need for all industry stakeholders and custodians of the nation’s transportation sector to work together’’. He was emphatic that ‘’Safety and Security are paramount to achieving robust and intermodal transport regime in Nigeria’’.

He was said to have also made the Army Chief to know  that ‘’the Institute  is the only professional  association  in charge  of the transportation industry in Nigeria’’, and thus ,’’deserves  to be accorded  its rightful place  in nomination of members  into relevant government agencies  and consultations  for policy formulations  and implementation strategies’’. He insists that ‘’it is the right to do’’. As an insider, he stated that as a Chartered Institute, tour ‘‘focus is very huge with great opportunities and challenges’’.  

Emmanuel Jime,   Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC,  who was said to have been represented at the CIOTA  summit, by one  C.C Agwu, had stated that ‘’without  security and safety, the nation’s transportation sector cannot fully develop’’.

 Jime, who could not hide his feelings had said that ‘’Transport, itself, is a catalyst to the development of the country’s economy’’. This may have informed why he has charged participants at the CIOTA, summit ‘’to come up with a standard to bring sanity to the country’s transportation systems’’, which include air, road and rail to prevent accidents.

Osagie Edward, an Assistant Director, and the agency spokesperson, had said that there were other notable speakers at the CIOTA summit, who made meaningful contribution. Among them were Bayero Salih Farah, Director General, Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT, Zaria, Kaduna state,  Abdul Abdulkarim, Rector, International Aviation College, Ilorin, Kwara state,   Yakubu Okatahi, a retired Army Colonel and  Representative of Dapo Abiodun, Ogun state governor,   and Prince Olasemi Ogunyemi, Commandant , Ogun state, Traffic Compliance  and Enforcement Corps, TRACE.

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