Alongside Hassan Bello, Hadiza, Moghalu, Effedua and others

Dr. Bashir Jamoh, DG, NIMASA

Maritime Administration is a global issue about which the United Nations, UN, has established a specialized Agency, the International Maritime Organization, IMO, to focus on, coordinate and manage all issues affecting international shipping such as Safety and Security, Pollution Control and management, Seafarers wellbeing and keeping the Oceans clean, clear and healthy not just for shipping but for human sustenance and the world’s ecological balance.

Hassan Bello, ES/CEO Nigerian Shippers Council

From records, as at now, there are 174 member states of the IMO, which includes 173 of the UN member states plus the Cook Islands. The first state to ratify the convention was the United Kingdom in 1949. The most recent members to join were Armenia and Nauru, which became IMO members in January and May 2018, respectively.

Nigeria became a member in of the IMO in 1962.

Hadiza Bala Usman, MD, NPA

From that time to date, not less than 40 conventions of the IMO has been ratified and adopted by Nigeria. As signatory to these conventions, Nigeria is bound to comply with provisions contained therein and carry out its maritime regulatory functions accordingly.

The appointment of Dr. Bashir Jamoh as Director General of NIMASA has elicited hope and so far, indicate a new vista in Maritime Administration in Nigeria.

Commodore Duja Effedua (rtd), Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria.

The establishment of the Forum of Maritime CEOs, FMC, among other initiatives brought to bear on maritime operations with the coming of Dr. Jamoh gives hope of greater synergy, improved efficiency reduction of bottlenecks and elimination of duplication of functions between Federal Government agencies in the Maritime Sector but can the CEOs walk the talk?

George Moghalu, MD NIWA

We shall be monitoring and walking the talk with Dr. Jamoh and his colleagues at the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, MAN and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC in our publications-Newsgate, Maritime Insider and online platforms Maritime Nigeria @ www.maritimenig.com henceforth.

The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, CRFFN, is in our view a bat at the moment because 13 years after, CRFFN is still sucking the breast of its mother-the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

How does a Council depend and rely on another Council to function?

It has no invitation to nor representation at the FMC. Notwithstanding, its role and functions are essential to smooth movement of cargo, we shall therefore reexamine its place in Nigeria’s maritime industry alongside the Forum of Maritime CEOs in this new era.

Stay tuned.