Unbowed, Unbroken, United

Gbemi Saraki, Minister of state, Transportation

Not being elected into the categories A, B nor C of the IMO Council could be upsetting and very unpleasant to patriotic citizens but to a country like Nigeria with its material and human capital resources which many countries of the world yearn for, the outcome is a reality check and introspection which Nigeria needs to reevaluate its relationship with its West African neighbours/partners in maritime Administration/Economic cooperation.

Without a doubt, Nigeria stands tall in West Africa. In the Gulf of Guinea, Nigeria shoulders the responsibilities of ensuring security in the region. Many of the countries in the region look up to and depend on Nigeria for their economic stability, peace and security.

The many interventions which Nigeria has made in the political stability of her West African neighbors puts her in a position of authority, power and influence in Africa.

If countries that have benefitted from Nigeria’s magnanimity in several ways will turn around to vote against Nigeria in an IMO election, let Nigeria sit back and watch how far they could go.

There is no stronger voice, there is no bigger presence, there is no greater capacity beyond that which Nigeria commands within Africa.

Those countries using IMO election to blackmail Nigeria to open her borders for their economic interests will have to meet Nigeria’s terms and conditions before contemplating such selfish trade bargain.

Team Nigeria to the IMO election was a formidable one. Led by the Minister of State for Transportation, Dr. Gbemisola Saraki, former senator and chairman Senate committee on marine transport, Saraki has a firm understanding of what the IMO elections entails.

Other members of the Nigeria’s delegation were the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, Chairman Senate Committee on Maritime transport , Senator Danjuma Goje and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Lynda Ikpeazu.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari; Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd) and Barr. Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) were part of the delegation as well.

There is no doubt about the capacity of these men and women to deliver. They ran a good race, fought a good fight but regional politics, envy and fear of Nigeria of what  citizens of Nigeria could do given the chance and space may have combined to rob Nigeria of her well-deserved place in the IMO Council.

Nigeria did not lose on account of what the country has done or failed to do in terms of maritime administration. As an Agency, NIMASA has not slacked in any of its responsibilities. Every country has issues and challenges to grapple with. To expect 100% compliance in all aspects of maritime Administration from all facilities, terminals and jetties and their operators is as unrealistic as expecting all members of a team to be equally competent. It is by drawing from each other’s strengths and weaknesses that teams prevail.

Dr. Gbemisola Saraki has said the campaign for the 2021 bid has begun. That cannot be. We must reevaluate, review and reconsider our relationships with our West African neighbours. To wine and dine with Nigeria only to stab us at the back on the international scene is unacceptable.

Nigeria is at the forefront of securing the Gulf of Guinea. The men and resources committed to the GOG are second to none.

Our sea ports and transportation network have issues which have been documented and been tackled. Is there any country without operational/administrative issues/challenges?

“It was a matter of paramount national interest that Nigeria gets a seat on the maritime table” Gbemi Saraki has said. She adds that Nigeria would, as a first task, appraise the factors behind its narrow loss by going back to the countries that voted to ask them what they did not think we have done well or why they did not vote for us”

While this thinking is not bad, it will serve us better to put our house in order. Members of the delegation know what the issues are. There is no need to establish a committee to look into why Nigeria lost.

The delegation has all the info at its disposal. Dakuku knows, Hassan Bello knows, Zakari is aware. Gbemi Saraki is not uninformed neither is Commodore Effedua, the Rector of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

The delegation is more than a committee. Let them start or continue working and making preparations for the next IMO election in 2021.