The Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) has lamented that the traffic gridlock leading into the Apapa ports has affected its operations, even as the institute has recently acquired a new secretariat.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily at the NIS Secretariat in Apapa GRA last week, its Registrar, Mr Sampson Chima said that in spite of the gridlock, the institute is still determined to set the right atmosphere in the maritime sector where only qualified hands are made to handle the available jobs.
While stressing how the traffic situation has affected staff of the institute, Chima said "the situation presently has affected the institute generally, the access to the institute is affected and when the access is not there, the personnel would not be there, this also affect other activities. It is not only the institute it has affected, it also affected operations aspect of the industry"
"However our activities continues , our professional examinations continue, the institute recently acquired a new secretariat, this would allow us to position ourselves better in discharging our duty as a professional body and also making sure that training is paramount to all practitioners in the sector and those just coming in"
"The gridlock had affected the industry greatly, but on our own part, we are trying our best to make sure that the atmosphere is conducive for business to thrive", he said
According to the NIS registrar, the secretariat was acquired in April 2018, and it is part of the mandate of the new administration that took over in the institute’s last Annual General Meeting which held in 2017.
He said it is part of the vision of the NIS President, Capt Anthony Onoagharigho, part of the promise he made is to reposition the institute in terms of infrastructure.
"On the aspect of legislative process on the charter which is pending at the National Assembly, there is a lot of thing on ground and when it comes on, it would benefit the industry", he said.
Recall that the institute had earlier in the year visited the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. The minister had promised to make sure that there is level playing ground in the industry.
Speaking on the recent training activities conducted by NIS, Chima said that within the short period it acquired a new secretariat, the institute has conducted series of training programmes.
"The training programs are grouped in categories; we have the professional training, we have the customised and certificate training program, the diploma program and the staff training for shipping companies"
"Our professional examinations are held twice in a year, May-June and November-December of every year. We are already preparing for the last one for the year"
"By the time the industry settles down, particularly the challenges before the industry, most of the companies will now focus on the training and development of their staff for optimal performance of their duties ", he said.
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