Some might say; what is different between 2013 and the years before it, yes there may be no difference beyond the fact every second the clock ticked taking us to the next, and then the next hour and then the next 24 hours and the calendar keeps flipping to the next day, until the year changes to 2014.
Some might say; what is different between 2013 and the years before it, yes there may be no difference beyond the fact every second the clock ticked taking us to the next, and then the next hour and then the next 24 hours and the calendar keeps flipping to the next day, until the year changes to 2014.
What has actually changed? Not much, really, except for only one (Mr Hassan Bello of the Nigerian Shippers Council), all the chief executives of government agencies are still as they were at the onset of 2013. The same goes for the various chief executives of private operators, where none; except for the unfortunate demise of that of Apapa Bulk Terminal; Capt Emmanuel Omotayo, which necessitated the emergence of Capt. Mohammed Bashir as the new CEO.
Which other changes? Yes, the expiration of the contract of the service providers and the emergence of Nigeria Customs Service as the sole providers of destination inspection service.
As a leading maritime media organisation, we have the advantage of seeing the Nigerian maritime sector from all fronts; from ‘the good, the bad and the ugly sides’, sufficiently enough to say that 2013 may not really be spectacularly different from the ones before it. No surprises; no upset!
When the year started in January, we like everyone expected that 2013 would be better than the year before it. Whether or not it was, is a matter of the side of the economic divide you are. But, generally, we had hoped that the mistakes of previous years would be corrected, we had many positive hopes.
Sadly, the issues that ushered us into 2013 are still with us and most likely going to herald us into 2014.
One of them is the long-awaited passage of the all-important Port and Harbour Bill. It is so sad and disappointing that almost eight years after the nation’s seaports were concessioned; still there are no regulatory bodies or enactments.
We blame industry stakeholders for their loss of attention of the Bill, even as we condemn both the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Transport for the delay. If industry players had risen up to the challenge of forming a formidable lobby group, may be the Bill would have been passed even before now.
There is also the apparently insurmountable assault on ships, cargo and crew by pirates and sea robbers. Nigeria has become the flagship of piracy and sea robbery along the Gulf of Guinea. The drop that was experienced in 2012 could not be sustained in 2013, owing probably to loss of steam by NIMASA. Good enough, the Nigerian Navy has been doing its best to stem the tide.
One other sad part of 2013 is the protracted failure of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) to get back on its feet. For close to two years, the council has had no governing council; it has also not been able to execute any of its programmes.
While commending the Registrar for holding forth creditably, we hold the Minister of Transport accountable for the plight of CRFFN. We equally blame the freight forwarding associations and their leaders responsible for their failure to bury their differences.
The selfless efforts of the Council’s immediate past chairman; Alhaji Hakeem Olanrewaju, which culminated in the meetings that he personally hosted to galvanise a revival strategy for the ailing council is commendable, sadly it was frustrated by some elements.
Just as it is often difficult to arrive at a consensus about any year, 2013 also remains an admixture of all that happened in the industry in the out-going year; hence, an appraisal will depend on the perception of the appraiser, in most cases this is subjective.
As 2013 rolls by, we acknowledged that the ‘pains’ of seafarers remain, the ‘lamentations’ of indigenous ship owners remain, and that the industry isn’t any better than it was in previous year. But, the year must roll by.
As a media outfit, we still remain the numero uno in our chosen field of maritime media, holding the enviable record of being Nigeria and indeed Africa’s first maritime daily publication
For us at First Mediacon Network Limited (owners of Shipping Position Daily newspaper) and Shipping Position Live on Star FM, we have had a fulfilling 2013 and we are grateful to God Almighty for His mercies and abundant grace.
We wish all our esteemed readers and advertisers a fun-filled Christmas celebrations and a prosperous 2014. Amen
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