Prior to his appointment as Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi had been Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly. It was from there that he became the Governor for eight years, after being Speaker for eight years, as well.
Not many expected that he would be made Minister in charge of Transportation, but when President Muhammadu Buhari made the announcement, stakeholders in the Nigerian transport sector, especially the maritime industry were apprehensive.
No doubt, the Ministry that Mr Amaechi superintends is big. The Federal Ministry of Transportation as presently constituted has at least 13 departments and agencies under it.
Agencies under the new Federal Ministry of Transportation headed by Rotimi Amaechi are: Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Nigerian Railway Corporation, National Inland Waterways Authority, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Nigerian Metrological Agency, Accident Investigation Bureau, NIMASA, NPA, Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, FAAN, NCAA, Nigerian College of Aviation Technology and Nigeria Airspace Management Agency.
Being not the first time that ministries will be rationalised, it may then not be strange to have a large Ministry of Transportation; incorporating both the erstwhile Ministry of Transport and that of Aviation.
Prior to the emergence of Mr Amaechi, there had been Chief Cornelius Adebayo, and others who have had the task of superintending both aviation, maritime as well as land transportation modes as ministers.
Good enough, Amaechi has a Minister of State (for Aviation); Mr Hadi Sirika, whom we hear is an aviation expert.
As a maritime media outfit, we are worried about the mirage of problems that the Minister inherited; especially in the maritime sector.
There are challenges at each of the agencies, there is hardly any segment of the nation’s maritime sector that does not have of one issue or another. At the NPA, the major issue is the non-passage of the Port and Harbour Bill, which ought to have predated the port concession of 2006. He will need the total cooperation of the National Assembly to achieve this. He needs to decide whether the nation needs a National Transport Commission or just concentrate on ensuring that the Port and Harbour Bill is passed. Apart from this, the new Minister will have to be decisive about the conduit pipe called Calabar channel dredging. He will also need to be informed and decisive too about the antics of private sector operators of the terminals, who over time have become untouchable.
At NIMASA, the issue is the need for the establishment of a Maritime Security Agency (MASECA), and of course, the relationship between NIMASA and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria. Of course, the minister also has the unending cry of marginalisation of indigenous ship owners vis a vis the implementation of Cabotage Act.
At the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, there is the nagging issue of legal backing for the Council’s activities as the Economic Regulator. This challenge has been there even before the Council became the port’s economic regulator.
For us as a maritime media organisation, we know that an efficient port system is as essential as an efficient rail system and an efficient road network. The Nigerian Railway Corporation has not been as complimentary as it should be in the delivery of cargoes to consignees, a development that has led to over reliance on the road as a means of conveying goods out of the ports. It is heart-warming that he has openly declared that he will complete all on-going rail projects and also extend rail lines to all parts of the country.
There is no doubt that the nation’s inland waterways system is insecure and ineffective. From Lokoja to Calabar, Baro, Bonny to Lagos, it is the same lamentation of insecurity and use of rickety boats un-dredged channels and non-adherence to safety standards.
Lastly, another problematic issue that will urgently require the attention of the Minister is the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN). The CRFFN has been in comatose for many years. The Council which started well has been budged down by intrigues among its registered members.
Since taking over, Minister Amaechi has demonstrated determination to succeed. He has seized every available opportunity to indicate how he intends to run the ministry and the associated responsibilities.
He has told ship owners to unite under one umbrella, he has also told maritime journalists to come under a single platform. And for frustrating the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), he threatened to whip recalcitrant freight forwarding association into line.
Some may not agree with him in some of the steps that he has taken so far, but he is the Minister in charge.
For him to be remembered as having come, seen and conquered, Mr Amaechi must drop the toga of being a former Governor who brought many enemies to himself on account of his political leaning. His clearance at the Senate and the fact that all Senators from the opposition PDP walked out in protest against his confirmation is enough reasons for him to know that his tenure as Minister of Transportation may be controversial.
There are PDP Senators in the Senate committees overseeing the various transportation ministry’s department and agencies; he has to contend with them.
Majority of Nigerians called for the appointment of round pegs in round holes; that is giving ministerial nominees portfolios that are relevant to their professional background. Minister Amaechi must realise that the Transport Ministry is a knowledge-based ministry that would have required someone with requisite training in transport or related field. He does not possess the cognate experience.
Yes, he will learn, yes he will need technocrats, but above all, he must have his own blueprint and be above board.
It will be quite unfortunate if he pushes for the appointment of ‘his own persons’ as Chief Executives of the various agencies under his ministry, without recourse to competence. We think that, for once Amaechi (and by extension, (President Buhari) should move away from the tradition of new governments sacking all CEOs, irrespective of performance. We throw our weight behind and defend any performing CEO in the maritime industry to retain his seat.
Finally, to succeed in office, Minister Amaechi needs professionals in various departments in the agencies, and he should stop at nothing to search for and engage them.
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