Compiled by Joshua Yousouph
Dr. Segun Musa (Deputy National President, NAGAFF)
Suggestions have been given to the Federal Government on the merging of similar agencies that often conflict due to linked interests. For instance, there is nothing stopping the government from merging NAFDAC and SON together. Also, NPA and Shippers’ Council can be merged together too including NIMASA itself. When we have multiple agencies that do similar jobs in the same sector, you will be confronted with these rivalries and superiority complex. For instance the Deep Blue Project by NIMASA is supposed to be an inter-agency project because they all have roles to play in the project, but it was only NIMASA that spearheaded it. That is to show there is no synergy between the agencies. I see no reason why the government should have multiple agencies doing similar jobs. We should not have more than two to three agencies in the maritime sector. These conflicts and rivalries will continue until the government yields to that advice.
Barr. Emmanuel Ohambele (AREFFN Chieftain)
This new government needs to streamline the activities of these agencies and draw boundaries in order not to allow conflict of interests. There have been rivalries between the Nigeria Shippers’ Council and the Nigeria Ports Authority. I am calling on this new government to establish a ministry for Maritime Affairs so that things can be taken care of. If they can do this, it will augur well for us by drawing the stakeholders nearer to the government than the Transport Minister taking care of the whole thing. There is conflicting interest. This has led to double taxation in the port. If it is not well ironed out, it will bring problems. These were the issues that led to the delay in the renewal of the concession of some terminal operators. It affects trade facilitation. Nigeria is a major player in the international trade and if we do not put our house in order, it will not augur well for us.
Captain Williams Ogunsakin (South West Director, MESAN)
Sometimes the cause of these inter agency rivalry is because of sharing formula. The people that established the Act that instituted the agencies should restate the excesses and limitations of each agency. Sometimes there are overlapping functions between these agencies which later leads to frictions and conflicts. The various Acts of these government agencies need to be revisited and reviewed. Most of these Acts were written during the analogue time. They need to be reviewed and upgraded to suit this digital age. This review should be done at least after every three years.
Humphrey Okwuosa (Apapa Chapter Secretary, NCMDLCA)
It was not so before, the rivalries just came up of recent. This is because every agency is trying to prove that they are doing what they need to do. You will see SON and NAFDAC conflicting on their level of jurisdiction which is not supposed to be. If you get to the terminals you will see DSS and Police conflicting on matters of jurisdiction too. It is a way of extortion because if the government has clearly defined the functions of each agency; there is no need for multiplications. This is also not facilitating trade. I don’t know why DSS will say that the duty you paid is small. This is not their work. We are trusting God that with this new change in government, and this new acting Comptroller General of Customs who is a core Customs officer, things might change and all these bottlenecks will be removed and we would have a smooth working chain in the port. It is not good at all. It delays job.
Gbolahan Adu (NISA Publicity Secretary)
One of the ways these inter-agency rivalries can be resolved is that the Act that instituted them should be reviewed based on these overlapping situations, so that we would know who is doing what and where they need to collaborate. If we talk about it from now till next year, if those Acts that established them are not reviewed, they will keep having those issues most especially those agencies that have to do with the maritime domain such as NIMASA, NIWA, NPA and the likes. If the Act is reviewed their activities can be streamlined. Stakeholders should also be engaged to get their own perception and angle on whom to do what in the industry according to what is obtainable in other maritime countries. If they leave it to the agencies, every one of them will be selfish. Until this is done, the problem will still continue to persist.
Captain Adetayo Saliu (Chairman, Merchant Navy Shipping Zonal Council)
I think the rivalry is uncalled for. Everyone has their duties to perform and if they stay according to their jurisdiction, there will be no rivalry. But you know most of these positions are politically inclined where many of the agencies want to impress their principals. However, if they have the interest of the Nigeria maritime industry at heart, they are expected to work together. They should be patriotic in their activities and discharge of their duties. Any one appointed is expected to do his or her job according to the Act that instituted his or her agency. The inter-agency rivalry among government agencies is unnecessary.
Otunba Sola Olatunji (NISA Member)
It is a sad situation that government agencies that should naturally collaborate to discharge dividends of democracy to the citizens are at daggers drawn. This is unwarranted and unacceptable. What is causing this problem is lack of patriotism. We would continue to experience these conflicts and rivalries among these government agencies until transparency culture is infused into our public governance and government businesses are conducted in line with the principles of accountability.
Comrade Ifeanyi Abel Chukwu (Admin/Asst. Secretary, Merchant Navy)
I don’t think inter-agency rivalry that exists among government agencies can be resolved until government stops the duplication of their functions and duties. In other words, I will say these inter-agency rivalry among government agencies in Nigeria particularly in the maritime sector. The government needs to merge the agency that has this issue of duplicating functions together. That I believe will be the lasting solution to resolve the ugly menace of inter-agency rivalry that exists among government agencies in the maritime sector.
Follow us on Facebook/ twitter
