By Stephen Ubanna
What appears to have started as a vision has become a reality. This is because of the options that had been put in place whether to celebrate the all -time maritime event being organised by veterans of Maritime Journalism should be organised in Lagos, the nation’s Commercial nerve centre, or not.
Acting on the mandate of the League of Maritime Editors, LOME, members, the Leadership of the Association was said to be working on two options, option A and option B. When it became obvious that the option Team were not serious with the assignment may have informed why the members who could no longer take excuse from them from their failed assignment that they quickly resurrected option B. All hands were put on deck to ensure that it became a reality as members used their contacts to reach out to signatories and the industry stakeholders both within and outside Lagos expected at the event.
A statement issued by Francis Ugwoke, the Association spokesperson shows that Adegboyega Oyetola, a former governor of Osun state and pioneer minister of ministry of marine and blue economy and Aliko Dangote, a multi-billionaire business mogul and President Dangote Industries and owner of the $19 billion 650,000b/d refinery in Lekki, Lagos, and described as the largest in the African Continent will be at the event that had been slated on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
Given fillers from the ministry, the minister who is the Chief of the LOME event and Mrs. Magdalene, the Permanent Secretary, described in maritime circles as he iron- Lady and maritime agencies Chief Executive Officer, CEO, who are expected to present position papers in line with their statutory obligations were said to have given their words that they will be available for the event.
Nigerians are looking forward to hear from the minister, who incidentally is the Chief Host and the agencies Eos, to give more insight about the blue economy project and how it can be beneficial them in terms of investment opportunities.
LOME may have selected two topical issues: harnessing Nigeria’s potential imarine and blue economy and the Customs Act, 2023 and its implication on Trade, after exhaustive discussions by members.
Timothy Okorocha -Paul, President of the Association, was emphatic that the NCS, under the Nigerian Customs Serviice, NCS, under the close watch of Bashir Aedwale Adeniyi, MFR, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Ports Authority and Nigerian Shippers Council, which have always identified with the Association will papers in respect of their contributions to the take -off of the blue economy project under the Present Preside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration.
Other events that was said to have been lined up for the LOME anniversary was the presentation of Awards to indiduals and Corporate Organisations who have made contributions to the development and growth of the nation’s maritime sector and Facilitation of Trade.
Give n an insider information, Okorocha-Paul, the LOME President disclosed that no fewer than 16 individuals and Corporate Oragnisations will be presented with different awards from the ministry, maritime agencies and the NCS. He had confirmed that Bashir Jamoh, the Director General , NIMASA, Mohammed Bello-KOKO, Managing Director , NPA, and the Executive Secretary, NSC, including Adeniyi, the Customs helms and some of the Area Controllers serving at the Interventionist unts have been slated for the LOME award based on their outstanding performance in facilitation of trade , revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations, which has saved Nigeria from being a dumping ground of the Asian country of Thailand par boiled rice and India Agricultural rice a ell as making Nigerian Tin-can Island port and Port Terminal Multi-services Limited, PTML, which has RoRo facilities nonoperational.
The recent Commissioning of MV Great Lagos, described as one of the largest Container Roll On -Roll Off vessel that had had ever berthed at any port around the West African sub-region by Grimaldi Agency Limited at PTML speaks volume.
Going by the International Maritime Organisation, IMO, a United Nations, UN, Maritime Agency report, MV Great Lagos with registration number 9935026, MMSI247451600 is a RoRo cargo ship built this 2023, and currently sailing under the Italian Flag. Expect more of more such big Container vessels at the Nigerian ports, Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy had aid,
There are indications that the Association had identified two outstanding women in the nation’s maritime for Leaque’s prestigious award. They are Mrs. Ajani, the Permanent Secretary, ministry of marine and blue and Josephine Moltok, who has retired from NPA, as General Manager and head of the Corporate Communications Department, described as the engine house of Authority, that had been taken over by another strong woman, Mrs. Ballah Sarah.K, an Assistant General Manager.
The Veteran Maritime Journalists who had over followed the duo track records since they joined the service and the maritime Industry and their outstanding Contributions may have informed why they have been slated for the Special award to show that Journalists doing their reportorial job appreciates their efforts and contributions in their various establishments.
The Leaque is a foremost Maritime Journalists Association based in Lagos, who were said to have all started by being members of the Maritime Reporters Association of MARAN, before leaving to float the the present LOME , 25 years ago, in order to give room for the younger Journalists, who have flair for maritime reporting to take over and run the Association. Note that the League members are also members of the parent body, Nigerian Union Of Journalists, NUJ, under the Leadership of Chris Isiguzo While Adelaye Ajayi, an Assistant Director with the News Agency of Nigeriaa, NAN, is the Chairman of the Lagos nuj, Chapter. .
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