Stakeholders in the maritime sector have kicked against the appointment of politicians into agencies and parastatals under the supervisory ministry of Marine and Blue Economy .
As part of efforts to improve the sector, the industry stakeholders lamented that the new Ministry is highly technical for politicians to handle hence the need to engage technocrats for optimal performance.
Speaking on Thursday at the 8th Anniversary of National Pathfinder Magazine held in Lagos, a former gubernatorial candidate of Lagos State, Dr. Segun Musa lamented that the blue economy can only thrive when the necessary potentials are enhanced.
Muse who is also a chieftain of the National President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) disclosed that lack of policy formulation has made the new Minister clueless pointing out the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is still under a litmus test , thus will further endanger the maritime sector.
Muse urged stakeholders to always speak the truth and engage government constructively as regards the blue economy adding that the the new ministry has no policies or framework development.
Musa stated that ”You cannot participate in blue Economy without participating in shipping. In 1980s, 1990s, we started with shipping building/acquisition fund but people will collect the money and waste it. That was how we did not have anyone to participate.
“If you are not participating in shipping, you are not relevant in blue economy.
“That is why we have to look for ways to engage the government to disburse the fund so that the country can be relevant in blue economy.
“Politicians have been used to superintendent over the sector before, they all failed.
“Maritime should not be a place used to compensate politicians. We cannot continue this litmus test and expect to advance the sector.
“If you take them to the port and whatever you tell them is what they will take because they don’t have knowledge of the sector.
“You cannot take a marine surveyor to the port and begin to tell him what is not because he already know what obtains.
“No serious nation will allow politicians to man agencies they don’t have knowledge of.
‘We can compensate politicians but not in core sectors like maritime because it will cause the sector to nosedive where knowledgeable people are required.
“In maritime, if you don’t have the knowledge, you don’t have it. That is why I am saying transport sector should not be given to politicians”,Dr. Musa lamented.
Similarly, a former National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Prince Shittu Olayiwole urged government to appoint individuals who are discipline and qualifed to man maritime agencies.
Citing instances, he noted that there is no way a lawyer can perform effectively when appointed to supervise the engineer sector.
Shittu who was represented by Pius Ujubonu reiterated that the blue economy Industry has the potentials to create millions of jobs and untapped wealth noting that” Nigeria is a very blessed nation with several resources both known and yet unknown resources.
“The blue Economy sounds new but it is something that is as old as our existence with aquatic splendour almost unlimited spreading the southern part of Nigeria
“Over 80 or 90 of what is there is rarely harnessed and when we do that, we gain very little from it. I must say,”Shittu affirmed.
National Coordinator, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers Exporters Coalition , Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick expressed dissatisfaction over appointment of non professional to head maritime agencies.
Osita lamented that the industry is not meant for politicians but for professional noting that most of the appointees are misled by the civil servants who are not in the good books of the Chief Executive Officer.
He urged government to have a rethink and appoint those that are technically sound to head such agencies, department or parastatals for effective performance.
On his part , Livinus Onwugbolu Publisher of Pathfinder Magazine ,disclosed that the 8th anniversary has the theme:”Blue Economy; the need to reposition Nigeria ‘s Maritime Industry to drive national economic development”, saying that “Today, we decided to assemble our friends to tell them how far we have come and where we are going to
He stated that “The magazine is a monthly magazine to promote and project several issues in the country.
Caption:
From Right: Dr. Segun Musa, NAGAFF Chieftain, Pius Ujubonu, chieftain of ANLCA, Livinus Onwugbolu Publisher of Pathfinder Magazine and National Coordinator, SNFFIEC Chief Osita Chukwu Patrick far left at the event held on Thursday in Lagos
By Roland Ekama
