Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF)
When the minister has come to see us we will talk about it, he has been appointed minister of transport, he has his own platform, when he comes in we will see his platform, if he needs our assistance he will come and see us, he will tell us his policies and agenda. First you should know is that the ports have been concessioned and up till now it has not gone through the due process of the National Assembly for ratification, the concession was to enhance efficiency and reduction of cost, we talk about truck terminals, holding bays and so on, when he comes we will look at it.
Aare Sanni Shittu (Vice Chair, ANLCA BOT)
The new minister should take cognizance of the levies that were introduced by the last administration as it affects the automotive policy, we all know that if you want to take up any project like manufacturing new cars in Nigeria, certain palliatives have to be put in place and the last administration never did, they first of all introduced levy which should not have come in the first place, they are milking Nigerians with the 35%. Secondly, the environment we are working, the minister should look into it, the roads are bad, nothing is working and the shipping companies and concessionaire are just on their own as well as the agencies. The maritime industry on its own is a money spinner; if well harnessed, you cannot make money without funding it, the environment is not conducive so the turnover is not there.
Simeon Olua (NAGAFF Chieftain)
The transport minister has a lot to do, look at the gridlock at Apapa, nobody can drive their vehicle within the route of Apapa, Ijora, Surulere, everywhere is blocked, we expect the transport minister to do something, we stakeholders have tried, we endured enough. The area we want him to come in and assist is the modernisation of vehicle imports, let there be higher revenue for older cars, and less duty for new ones. Secondly, shipping companies or terminal operators should not be allowed to increase their prices arbitrarily, the minister should come in and cub their excesses in the port by assisting the Shippers’ Council.
Francis Omotosho (S.A to ANLCA President)
The minister is the only one that has what it takes to make a change in the transport industry, the change must come to the maritime sector, a lot of things have been destroyed in this sector, as he is coming in, he has all he needs to work with, all the maritime agencies have over the years destroyed so many things, instead of cost of trade to come down at our ports it keeps rising up. The only agenda I have for the minister is 'change', let there be a meltdown in the cost of doing business at our ports; this is one of the fundamentals of transport itself.
Festus Ukwu (NCMDLCA)
The minister of transport is not that grounded as regards maritime transport, but the issue concerning Apapa gridlock is one major area we want him to focus on because the ports access roads are no-go areas and we all know that it is affecting shipping business in Nigeria. Secondly the issue of tank farm should be properly addressed by him. The tank farms need to be relocated out of Apapa. The issue of shipping charges at the ports should also be looked into by him.
Chief Michael Ubogu (Stevedoring Expert)
My advice to the new minister is that one, he should liaise with his counterpart in the ministry of works to ensure that the access roads to Apapa are well taken care of and mandate the tank farm owners along the Apapa corridors to have a standard holding bays for trucks and also introduce a call up system.
Dr. Zebulon Ikokide (President NIFFCB)
He should understand that his appointment is not governance but knowledge-based industry. Transport is a knowledge based sector and for him to correct any anomalies, he should correct what he knows. He will still have to learn to understand how the industry operates and I expect the new minister of transport to visit all the trouble spots in the maritime transport sector and with that he will be able to work better. If he will be able to concentrate on most of issues bothering the industry, then he may perform but if he decides to act like every politician then he may not mind about the sector he is appointed to supervise rather he will lay more emphasis on the budget allocated to the ministry. I can only advise him to remove the toga of politician and concentrate on the role of a minister.
Comrade Matthew Adele (Dockworker)
Based on the previous transport ministers we have seen, they all have different agenda but this minister that comes under the agenda of change may make the difference. My expectations are: One, improve government values in the development of the sector as regards transportation policies. Secondly, re-branding and organising a new transportation system, thirdly – maintenance and reconstruction of government abandoned project and also provision of transport basic amenities for both state & federal roads.
Comrade Sylvester Keshinro (Transporter)
My major expectation is for the minister to visit the ports in Nigeria and see what the situation is like. Issues surrounding rail rehabilitation, good roads where the trucks can ply out of the ports should be another part of his agenda, because holding bay for vehicles is key for the minister to address. We also want him to discuss the issue of weigh bridge with the concessionaires because there is need to know the actual weight of a cargo laden on the trucks which will address the issue of falling containers.
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