Emmanuel Tobi (ANLCA, PTML)
Emmanuel Tobi (ANLCA, PTML)
It is very important for maritime stakeholders to be involved in Nigerian politics so that they will be able to tell the government our needs and correct government where necessary. Our involvement in politics will give us some advantages and help the practice to improve. Currently we have some of them there, even some retired custom officers, the former area controller of Tin Can Customs; Jerry Alagbaoso is also in the House. But there are many problems in the country; we are just praying that we should get it right. I believe those in politics are representing the industry well, but you know that before the government can listen to you it takes time, unless you have your own caucus whereby if you move a motion, they will support you, nobody cares about you. ANLCA president; contested the last time, his secretary also contested, we are trying to push in our men.
Mmezi Dan Ohamadike (KLT, AREFFN)
Politics is something you join in order to make your people feel happy, in our maritime sector now, people like Dr Aniebonam has been in politics for a long time, he founded a political party and he has been there for many years. So our going into politics is a nice thing, it is a chance to show to the world that we in the maritime sector are educated, formerly they thought agents are just a bunch of uneducated people where you can belong without any regulation, where if you clear one container or car tomorrow you become an agent, its far beyond that, we have been able to come out to tell the world that agents are intelligent people. I am not satisfied however with the representation because some of us are still afraid of joining politics, we believe that politics is something that anybody can come out for in order to sanitize a situation.
Akanni Balogun (ANLCA, Tin Can)
We know maritime stakeholders have been involved in politics, we have produced senators like Senator Kamba who was a former president of ANLCA, the customs are also part of the maritime sector and many of them are in government while some are governors, the Governor of Sokoto State is a former custom officer, Adamu Alero was also a custom officer and a whole lot of others, so definitely the sector has been dully represented, we don't need to carry the whole population of the sector to the assembly before it will be represented, for instance, a former port manager who was a senator, Senator Muse headed the committee on maritime, with this I think the sector has been dully represented, if these people elected actually did what is right definitely we would have gone far by now. Nigerian politics is a place where things are not done on merit, even if you send a private member Bill to the House they will still want you to push it with money, this means the lawmakers do not love the country, but they love their personal purse.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF/ New Nigeria Peoples Party)
First of all you have to think about what you have control of, as the founder of NAGAFF, the members of NAGAFF have been invited into politics and it is a directive we are giving to them, trying to create their level of consciousness as far as politics is concerned and as far as the business we do is concerned. On our own side we have concluded it, a lot of NAGAFF members from Anambra State have gone back to the state and to the constituencies even up to the local government, they are now beginning to sponsor one or two persons to participate in the politics, this is how we can generate a better economy and good administration. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is a national political party, only Anambra state is holding election for now, Ekiti State is coming up next year, the Ekiti members of NAGAFF and freight forwarding at large will also be drawn in, it is a movement and we will see how to get it done.
Frank Ailakor (ANLCA)
I must say that I am satisfied with the level of involvement and participation by maritime stakeholders in politics, because they are working hard to make sure that problems in the maritime industry is addressed. Most of them in politics are technocrats, they are well read and as individuals, they have also contributed to the industry, in one way or the other. The likes of Orji Uzor Kalu , Jim Nwobodo are core maritime experts who later became ministers and governor ;today we have the likes of Ade Dosunmu, Captain Iheanacho,NAGAFF founder Aniebonam Boniface ,our president Prince Olayiwola Shittu and whole lot in politics and it is good for the economy. It is good for the governance of the people and the industry we represent. I know and I believe that if these people are able to occupy key positions in government, the industry will definitely gain a lot from it.
Michael Emiko (Stakeholder)
It is important for the industry to have representatives in both the upper and lower chambers of the legislature, ministries, state government etc. And again if most of our present politicians in the maritime sector have been able to grab some key positions in government it will help the sector as well. You will recall that in the last election, the likes of Ade Dosunmu lost in Lagos state, Prince Shittu also lost, Peter Okocha in Delta state lost, even Atiku Abubakar lost as well. Therefore I must commend their effort but I think if maritime stakeholders who are in politics could be able to emerge as winners in some key positions in government and he or she is willing to serve the sector without greed then we can say all is well with the maritime industry.
Mazi Joseph Anaboaranye (Registrar FFAN)
The industry has produced quite a number of great politicians like the former Vice President of Nigeria; Atiku Abubakar, alsol Peter Okocha once tried his hand in politics in Delta State. So I will say the sector is making a lot of impact in politics because there is money and you can't play politics without money, thus an industry where you see a lot of people pushing out money for politics show that there is money in the sector. But I think that we can't run away from politics ,because we are all political animals and you can not run away from politics where your business suffers in the hand of the political class and that is why we need to get more involved in politics so that we can protect our business which is the industry.
Increase Uche (Sec. Gen NAGAFF)
My own view is that I am not fully satisfied with the level of performance by industry stakeholders in politics because so far they have not been able to bring about the relevance of freight forwarding in the maritime sector. I will say so far, it’s not too good and until we get professionals from the industry who will go there and pursue our interest then we can say that we are satisfied and that is why Dr. Boniface Aniebonam is a very good example because his party is preaching heavily about freight forwarding and the transport sector of the economy and it is only when we are there that we can be able to contribute our quota in areas that affect us the most, then we can say we are satisfied.
Mr Chester Asagba (CEO; Chesterfield Marine, Abuloma Jetty, Port Harcourt)
I am happy that this issue is coming up to the public domain. Of a truth, we are not satisfied with the level of participation and performance of maritime industry stakeholders in Nigeria politics. Their participation is very low. This has negative effect on the policies that affect the maritime industry. For example, the revenue agencies are numerous, and they have continued to exploit operators at the on the waterways. Today, we are seeing multiple taxation, marine vessels and their operators face challenges of multiple taxations. This is a major threat to the marine industry.
We believe that if maritime stakeholders get more involved in politics, they will help to influence decision-making process in the industry. These revenue agents are frustrating marine operators at the waterways.
If we have men in the policy making positions in maritime sector who understand the issues involved, I believe that things will get back on proper track.
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