Sequel to moves of floating a new national shipping line in a bid to encourage indigenous operators,the President General of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Adewale Adeyanju has called on the Minister of Transport, Dr. Mu’azu Jaji Sambo not to politicize the promises of Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) disbursement.
Adeyanju who commended the minister for the initiative added that the project should be executed at the right time to avoid being jettisoned by subsequent government that may want to take over from the present administration.
The President General in chat with newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos, stated that the dream of revamping indigenous shipping line was part of the union’s demands over the years.
He quipped that such move would not only reduce the rate of unemployment in the country, but would also engrave the name of the minister in gold in the Nigeria maritime history as one of the best ministers of Transport.
According to him, expectations are of high notes by stakeholders following the assurances given so far by the Mu’Azu Sambo led Federal Ministry of Transportation on CVFF disbursement.
His words, “It is a welcome development if it is going to be well adhered to, it is what the maritime workers of Nigeria have been clamouring for.
” For the minister to have come out boldly to state the time and ways to achieve the project is laudable.
“Now that they are coming to support the Nigerian ship owners to acquire vessels,.it is applaudable but they should do it at the right time and not just make it a political statement.
“Sometimes government officials use sweet words promising to do something and at the end of the day, nothing will be done but since the minister has promised, it is a good thing because it will reduce unemployment.
“If the minister can achieve this, he will be one of the best ministers that have been produced in the maritime sector but I expect him to come out boldly to actualise it,’ he maintained.
On whether the feat is achievable before the end of the present administration, the MWUN boss said the minister would have considered the resources and time available to him before making such sensitive promise.
“He must have looked critically at the time and resources available before he made the pronouncement. He could not have come out to say such without having looked at what is left behind by the predecessor.”
Adeyanju also commended the past Minister of Transportation,Mr. Rotimi Ameachi for contribution to the industry.
Recall that Sambo had pledged to ensure the disbursement of CVFF even as he had met with critical stakeholders in the shipping industry to fine-tune modalities for the actualisation.
By Roland Ekama
