EXCLUSIVE: We Are Not Surprise Nigeria Lost Category C Seat In IMO Election – Stakeholders

Maritime Stakeholders on Saturday, have continued to expressed their views over Nigeria poor outing at the just concluded International Maritime Organization (IMO) election held in London yesterday.

The maritime operators maintained that Nigeria is not ripe to get into any of the categories that exist in IMO seat as a result of her poor infrastructure and clueless maritime administration.

According to them, Nigeria port administrators need to learn the hard way following government ineptitude in the selection of individuals to run maritime affairs.

They also called for inter maritime agencies collaboration in addressing the numerous challenges in the sector,mostly as it affects port infrastructure.

Reacting on the development , Managing Director ,Victory Energy Resources, Otunba Sola Olatunji called on Nigerian maritime stakeholders to engage government to appoint square pegs in square holes and not the other way.

Olatunji , a member of the Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA), told our correspondents , that the current administration has failed to carry stakeholders along in its activities , saying inputs and contributions by operators should be considered this time around.

“Nigeria lost the category C seat in IMO because, they haven’t put their act together back home. Don’t forget that your international rating is naturally based on how you have been able to put yourself together at home.

” The maritime stakeholders at home are not surprised at this because, we knew it will get to this level one day.

He also harped on the need for stakeholders and government agencies collaboration as part of efforts to brainstorm in proffering solutions to the ills bedevilling the industry.

Olatunji lamented that:”Our consolation as stakeholders is that we have always been shouting about this but government officials who are expected to interface and engage us constantly continually run textbook maritime activities against our advice.

” The consequence of running maritime activities in Nigeria without the stakeholders input lead to our loss yesterday.

Speaking on the way forward, the ship owner said :”In my view , I expect us to learn one or two lessons from what happened yesterday and quickly, going to the drawing board to restart against 2021.

” Although our loss of category C seat at IMO was painful but it’s not the end of the world . However,it’s to remind us that we need to put certain things right as a maritime nation b4 2021 & beyond. Thank you.

On his part, Head of Shipping Department, Stars Maritime Academy, Mr. Chris Sadoh noted that Nigeria cannot grab the category C seat due to poor maritime pedigree.

Sadoh said that “there is nothing surprising about the lost but we need to get it right come 2021 “.

He called on the Minister of Transport Rotimi Ameachi to further work closely with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to secure the 2021 Category C seat ticket.

Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS), Mr. Chima Sampson said its a disappointment to the nation’s economy and maritime sector,even as he urged the government to map out strategic solution to get it right come 2021.

” We don’t know where we got it wrong cause this is not the first or second time losing out in the category C seat and we need to work together and find out the cause of all this”.