Anxiety in NIMASA Over Exit Of Ziakede Akpobolokemi

• Stakeholders express mixed reactions
Ahead of resumption of work today (Tuesday), there is palpable anxiety at the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) after the sack last week of its Director General; Dr. Patrick Akpobolokemi by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akpobolokemi was removed from office last Thursday via a terse statement issued by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity; Mr Femi Adesina.

Akpobolokemi was removed from office last Thursday via a terse statement issued by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity; Mr Femi Adesina.
Adesina, who did not give reason for the decision, which he said, took immediate effect, however added that Akpobolokemi would hand over the management of NIMASA and all government property in his possession to the most senior officer in the agency who will remain in charge until a new Director General is appointed.
Most of the employees of the agency who spoke with our correspondents during the long holidays expressed anxiety about the future of NIMASA after Akpobolokemi.
One of them, who is a senior staff acknowledged that the directive to handover to the most senior officer may cause more friction in the already charged atmosphere in the agency.
For obvious reasons, none of the staff could openly speak on the tenure of the former DG, they also pleaded anonymity. They were however unanimous in their assessment of Akopobolokemi. They scored him low on staff welfare, discipline, adherence to the principle of federal character in appointment and promotion of officers.
Also stakeholders in the maritime industry have continued to express mixed reactions over the recent removal of the director general.

Some of the stakeholders who called in on our sister product; Shipping Position Live on Star FMyesterday in Lagos, expressed divergent views about the removal of the NIMASA boss.

President, National Council of Managing Director Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLA), Mr. Lucky Amiwero described Akpobolokemi's four and half years stay in office as the worst that has so far happened in the history of the apex maritime regulatory agency.

Amiwero, a former president of the Institute of Transportation Administration (IOTA), noted that NIMASA, under Akpobolokemi’s watch failed to implement necessary provisions to the two Act which guides the agency.

In his view, the Akpobolokemi’s administration should be probed by the federal government; he argued that the agency failed to develop the shipping sector of the industry in the last four years.

The foremost maritime player stressed that the outgoing NIMASA failed to promote indigenous ship operators in Nigeria saying that Nigerians are suppose to own ship through the scheme set up by government to empower ship owners.

Amiwero also faulted the implementation of the National Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), saying the programme was largely misplaced.

The NCMDLCA boss who noted that the Cabotage Act was set up to promote and protect local operators, lamented that the Akpobolokemi-led NIMASA failed to carry along local operators, as part of effort to bar foreign operators.

He also alleged that nothing was done to promote maritime development under the sacked DG. He alleged that, rather high level of looting was recorded under Akpobolokemi’s watch.

"Patrick Akpobolokemi happens to be the worst DG we have ever had in the maritime industry because all the provisions of the two legislatures, which are the acts were not implemented"

" As a result of that, there is need to probe that agency at this point, because a lot of funds coming into the account of NIMASA as regards development of shipping in the country were unaccounted for”, he alleged.

He said further that relevant laws setting up the agency revealed that NIMASA is supposed to promote indigenous shipping, but Amiwero said that as DG of NIMASA, Akpobolokemi failed to boost indigenous shipping.

Also, speaking via the telephone on the radio programme, maritime and labour consultant to the International Labour Organisation (ILO)and former President of Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, Captain Thomas Kemewerigha scored the former DG 60%.

Kemewerigha noted that Akpobolokemi’s tenure is the longest in the history of NIMSA even as he added that the sacked NIMASA had his own unique style of operation which made him to stay that long in office.

"I want to assume that the NIMASA boss did what he knows how to do best while in office as NIMASA boss”, he stated.

According to him, the issue of formulating and enforcing laws associated with the shipping industry has been a problem which needs to be addressed under the new administration. He argued that the former DG of NIMASA couldn’t have been overseeing what transpired in all departments of the agency.
He however called on the federal government to probe former director general from the period of Dr Ade Dosunmu to Akpobolokemi in the area of the famed National Seafarers Development Programme, which according to him had gulped large amount.

He explained that it would be unfair to single out Akpobolokemi , and that all former DGs of the agency should also be probed , because according to him, Akpobolokemi inherited the project from previous chief executives of the agency.
Also some stakeholders took to the social media to vent their angst over the tenure of Dr Akpobolokemi a sthe DG of NIMASA.
One of them, (identity withheld) said: “For the years he lasted as the DG of NIMASA, the nation's maritime community was insulted. That this individual was ever appointed to head such a sensitive agency by President Goodluck Jonathan remained an example of executive mal-administration that emphasised nepotism.
Miffed at the rationale behind appointment in 2010, he said on Face book: “What in heaven's name qualified him for the position? I cannot see because there was none!!! And it is so annoying that some people, supposedly respected voices in the industry, cavorted and massage his ego. Truth was not said just because of morsels.”
“I sincerely pray that the nation's maritime industry will never be so denigrated now and in the future!!!”.