Going by their statutory positions, the personalities that run some organisation and the issues that ushered them into 2018, some agencies, organisations and persons will certainly occupy front positions in 2019. After a careful appraisal of issues plaguing the Nigerian maritime industry, and based on our knowledge of the prevailing situations and personalities, we have picked these individuals and organisations for a close watch in 2019. They are top on our list of newsmakers for 2019.
The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents
Apart from the immediate post-Alhaji Sani Kamba era, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has never had it this bad.
Now ANLCA, which was reinvigorated by its immediate past National President; Prince Olayiwola Shitu has been brought down on its knees by feuding members. It’s bad enough that, a faction has passed a vote of no confidence on the new President; Mr Tony Iju Nwabunike. An association with a near-similar name has been discreetly announced.
There are three court cases and many issues to be resolved. However, all the issues are fallout of the association’s National Executive Committee elections which held last year and which threw up the incumbent.
Recall that, in a fiercely-contested election, Nwabunike not only defeated his opponent; Mr Emenike Nwokeoji by only three votes, almost all in ‘his camp’ won. This set the stage for the current battle which has brought ANLCA to its knees.
There is nexus between what has engulfed ANLCA now and the battle for the soul of its Board of Trustees (BoT). Its chairmanship is currently being contested by Chief Henry Njoku and Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha.
If these issues, which have escalated into litigations, are not resolved early, it may be ANLCA’s road to the pre-Prince Olayiwola Shittu’s era.
And that is why we passionately appeal to the elders in the association to sheath their sword and reconcile the factions; we dare say the onus is on Prince Olayiwola Shittu to lead the campaign to resolve the imbroglio. He should talk to ‘his boys’.
Gladiators like: Henry Njoku, Taiwo Mustapha, Peter Obih, Taiye Oyeniyi, Kayode Farinto, Babatunde Mukaila, Joe Sanni, Ernest Elochukwu and of course, the chapter chairmen in the association’s Western Zone and others should know that they are killing their baby. If it is not resolved on time, there may be no ANLCA as was known in ages past anymore! May it not be said that ANLCA will be in the news in 2019 for the bad reasons.
Hadiza Bala Usman and the Nigerian Ports Authourity
No doubt, Hadiza Bala Usman has proven all wrong; she has done well since her appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as the first female Chief Executive Officer of the NPA.
She has carved a way of getting all stakeholders to be on the same page with her. The workers love her, the terminal operators (her tenants) speak no evil of her, shipping companies pay obeisance. All these are not for nothing – she meets them at their points of needs.
For NPA workers, they now enjoy a better welfare package and promotions are no longer for the well-connected only. It’s open and transparent and earned.
For once, the terminal operators say that they now have a landlord (NPA MD) who empathizes with them. There are several instances when she had ordered a reversal of directives, extension of implementation of some, all to ensure that the terminal operators break even. A case in point is the delay in the much-publicized review of port concession agreement. She is also a bit sympathetic in the case of holding bays.
As for the shipping companies/agencies, they now enjoy better deals, the channels are no longer a problem; ships’ turnaround time is shorter now.
This piece is however not about these achievements, if it is to be, then she can go to bed; assured that she would still be the CEO of the much-coveted NPA, after May 29, 2019.
As in all election years, Chief Executives of agencies of government are parts of the politicking to ensure that their principals are re-elected. Usually unseen, Hadiza Bala Usman is a prominent member of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign body. Her continued stay in NPA as the CEO depends largely on the victory of Buhari in the February elections.
Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
Perhaps, he shares the same pedigree with his counterpart at the NPA. He is a politician and a protégé of a strong ally of President Muhammadu Buhari ; (the Minister of Transportation; Mr Rotimi Amaechi).
Coming into NIMASA after the profligate tenure of Mr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolekemi, the maritime industry had high hopes that the wrongs would be put right.
Understanding quite well that he owes his emergence as DG to politics, Dakuku Peterside shares his time between his constituency (Rivers state where he had wanted to be Governor) and his primary assignment as DG NIMASA.
Being one of the first CEOs to be appointed immediately President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn-in; his score card isn’t quite impressive, if the mandate of NIMASA is to be used as a yard stick.
Truth is, NIMASA under his watch has not been able to address the issue non-implementation of Cabotage Act; there is rampant abuse of the waiver clause. It is also worrisome that the well-thought-out National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) ‘died’ under his watch.
Perhaps, Dakuku’s greatest offence in the court of ship owners is the non-disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF). There are conflicting figures and yet-to-be-fulfilled promises of disbursement.
One sore point of his regime as DG of NIMASA is also the apparent loss of the war against piracy and sea robbery.
In summary, if it was left for Nigerian maritime industry stakeholders to determine Dr Dakuku Peterside’s faith as DG of NIMASA, he may not go beyond 2019.
The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria
After years of inactivity; owning to lack of a Governing Council, the jinx was eventually broken in 2018, with the appointment of government nominees and subsequent election of freight forwarders into the council.
But, 2019 may be an interesting year for the Council, especially going by expectation of freight forwarders. For a Council that has been moribund for many years, during which practitioners have had no feel of it, this year will certainly test the competence of its Governing Council.
The emergence of the CRFFN Chairman is an issue that will either make or mar the Council in 2019. It’s agreed that the emergence of Retired Col. Tsanni Abubakar was highly contentious, but the antagonists appeared to have accepted him. The way he handles the Council will determine how far the endorsement will go.
One issue that will also bring contention to the Council in 2019 is the collection of the Practitioners Operations Fees (POF) which is expected to commence this year. No doubt, the five registered freight forwarding associations are eagerly awaiting collection and disbursement.
The National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders
The celebrated exit of its Founder and numero uno; Dr Boniface Aniebonam from what he called ‘association politics’ late last year will be the turning point in the life of the association that famed itself as having the largest number of freight forwarders.
This is the second time that Dr Aniebonam would be exiting the politics of NAGAFF. He once did that at a well-attended ceremony at the Mainland Hotel in Lagos. But, not too long after he was pulled-out, he reappeared and once again took charge.
His 2018 exit will impact on the association in two ways, depending on how its leadership and membership take it.
First, will Dr Aniebonam leave NAGAFF to operate in the industry as a freight forwarding association that no longer needs to cling to his apron string, or will Dr Aniebonam still be controlling the leaders from the background?
Second, can the leaders lead NAGAFF without recourse to Dr Aniebonam?
No doubt, he symbolizes NAGAFF. A NAGAFF without the domineering presence of Aniebonam will be an interesting story of 2019.
Barrister Hassan Bello and the Nigerian Shippers’ Council
Unlike the duo of Hadiza Bala Usman and Dakuku Peterside, Hassan Bello’s existence as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council predates the present government. But he has remained in office due to his competence and execution of the mandate of the Shippers’ Council.
In fact, notwithstanding the fact that he is not ‘one of them’ abinitio, he was given a second term by the current administration; perhaps a confirmation of his performances.
No doubt, the performance of the Council as the Economic Regulator is commendable. The Council has done well without confrontation. Though statutorily empowered to ensure compliance by all, the Council prefers dialogue and negotiation, a policy which has earned commendation from all.
Under his watch, the dream of a National Transport Commission (NTC) is becoming a reality. This, above all, will no doubt draw attention to the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and its CEO in 2019.
The fact that the NTC Bill was passed and sent to the President for assent is no mean achievement. The refusal of the President to sign the Bill is a however cause for concern. But, the reasons that were given for the refusal is a pointer to the fact that the NTC Bill is seen by some as an attempt to strip them of some statutory responsibilities. Also, it is a fact that some powerful stakeholders tried to kill the Bill. Maybe, they are a part of the gang-up against the President’s assent.
This and more makes the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and its CEO a centre of attraction in 2019.
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