THIS INTERVIEW WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN JANUARY 2008. IT IS BEING PUBLISHED AGAIN (UNEDITED) AS A TRIBUTE TO CHIEF AYO AFOLABI WHO PASSED ON LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 80 YEARS
When he left ancient Ile- Ife, Osun State for the port city of Lagos, little did he know that he was going to become a notable maritime personality. Chief Ayo Afolabi is a maritime industry pioneer, not because of being possibly the only person around with about 56 years experience, but also because, he is still active, informed and respected in an industry where most of his contemporaries are no longer available. He still reports for duty at his office in Apapa where this interview took place. Meet the first Nigerian CEO of UAC Nigeria Limited, one-time board member of NPA, Fellow; pioneer National President and Patron, NIS and Fellow, CILT among other outstanding laurels
“PORT CONCESSION WAS A MISTAKE” Late Chief Ayo Afolabi
You are a well known member of the shipping community. In fact, a pioneer, but I will still like to ask: Who is Chief Ayo Afolabi?
You have already said it. I am Chief Ayodele Afolabi; I worked with a shipping company at that time called Palm Line Agencies of Nigeria, a subsidiary of United African Company (UAC) Limited. I have that singular opportunity of serving in a shipping company, because I was able to know almost all the ports in the world except the Russia, almost all the Ports, starting with Liverpool and going from there to what was then called COWAC Continental, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, I went to Oslo and then the USA. I worked in the ports’ container section where I saw everything. Without wasting much time I moved through the ladder to the very top in 1978 when I became the General Manager of the company, I was the first General Manager of Nigerian origin, because the position at a time was regarded as very sensitive but I dealt with all personalities in that part of the world I covered. I had about thirty managers of different races, working or reporting directly to me I was reporting to UAC London. The Japanese I will say this without any contradiction are very industrious. I worked in Tokyo; I worked in Austria handling containers. If I have to start talking about that I may be stepping on other people’s toes. It does not matter to me now. I also had the privilege of being the first Nigerian to handle a container vessel. At that time it was 8” by 8” not 20 foot. I was in Lagos and that was Apapa.
The ports in 1952 and now, how different?
There is no basis for comparison at all. At that time things were done as they should be done. But we deviated when we entered the business of containers. We suddenly moved fast into it and the business moved ahead of us. I mean Nigeria or the Nigerian Ports Authority. We saw the worst this year when the ports were broken into pieces. I believe it was the greatest mistake in the shipping history. I mean concessioning I don’t like it In thorough sense, lets look at this : I rent a room out to you, if you are not satisfied with my tenancy, all you need to do is to quit. But instead of that, we went into the agreement of 20 to 25 years. Ever since, we had this struggle, particularly the congestion in Apapa, there was no area left for container handlers to park their containers when discharged. In the recent past; we had a place called Lilly Pond that was also concessioned. Vehicles are now parking on the bridge which is not supposed to be so .It will reduce the life span of the bridges.
Corruption has crept into the ports system, how was it those good old years?
The custom officers then were as religious as they possibly can. If a custom officer has done a good job for you; may be you buy him sandwiches. But these days, Customs have been so spoilt. And this is what our foreign partners are taking advantage of. I was reading in one of today’s papers that cargoes were being released and licenses were given to importers to clear cargoes without paying any duty. In those days, only the religious books or materials were released free of charge and anything that has to do with special cargoes. That is why we have Government Coastal Agency. You can be more than sure that the cargo will not be delivered elsewhere. Unfortunately, the ports are not been run the way they are supposed to be run. I had a very good time when I serve on the board of the Nigerian Ports Authority for seven years I am proud to have served on that board. The board has now being messed up, which is very unfortunate.
Liquidation of NNSL
That was one of the mistakes. God bless former President Obasanjo, he kept asking where are the 21 vessels I bought when he was the Head of State It again boils down to corruption. These vessels were disposed at more or less a give away price and gradually, we had nothing left. I knew those people in charge; they knew where they could get money. Nigeria was to send troops to Monrovia and used Nigerian vessels, it was cheaper because, it is elementary sense: if I have a ship and you want to rent or hire it to the war front, I have to pay a very high premium on the insurance to make sure that if the worst should happen I wouldn’t lose out too much. The same thing happened to the Airways, we were left with almost nothing, we are now looking up for people who can offer that type of service, but there won’t be so many for sure. At a time, the Ministry of transport was headed by expatriates who knew their onions very well. Now, all positions have degenerated to people of less knowledge and people who were corrupted up to their neck. Therefore, anything goes.
What is your take on the Cabotage Act?
We rushed the signing of the Cabotage Bill. I have never seen a bill so rushed to be passed like that in my life,. What is the Cabotage bill? Like I said I worked in American port. The essence of having a cabotage bill in America is to preserve the intermediate cargoes within the American country from being carried by an outsider. We are copying America which we are not up to the standard of copying. It (Cabotage) was so rushed that nobody could take notice of its passage process and what is happening today is far deeper than what anybody envisaged. We have no ships; no indigenous and inland ships, the government has none. If we have enough inland vessels, to cover Warri, Sapele, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Lagos, we would not have problems as regards tankers and accidents. The tankers carrying petroleum products from here to coastal regions were using lories which is causing damage all over the place and deaths and roads are being spoilt by the seconds, and we are spending fortunes on road construction and repairs, What is annoying is, and I used the word “annoying” deliberately, is that if you are importing a trailer, any vehicle or even a car, all other dues have been calculated, then you pay two percent on road maintenance, Cabotage is unnecessary, it is a failure. It was not well thought out.
Life at the ports in the 1950s how was it?
It was gentlemen’s business. Gentlemen’s business in the sense that, you may not believe this but I have seen it to the extent that, for instance if you go to charter a vessel, all you need to do when the amount is written is to shake hands, you don’t sign papers. You just know that is so much, so much amount and then you shake hands. God forgive you, you don’t make mistakes, because your name will be blotted out and that of your family name you won’t go to that place again. It is as strong as that, but now anything goes.
At over 70 years, you are still agile and at work, what is the secret?
I am enjoying my life for which I must be thankful to God. You must be satisfied with what you have and you will receive God’s blessing. If you are looking for what you do not have and you are desperate to have it, then you get into troubles. I want to sit down in my house, somebody knocks the door and I say who are you I’m busy; I’m sorry, see me tomorrow. Many people, even when the door is locked and you knock on their door, they jump. Many are not contented.
Profile Of Chief Ayo Afolabi (December 16, 1929 To April 22, 2010)
FULLNAME: CHIEFAYODELE AFOLABI
DATE OF PLACE OF BIRTH: 16 December, 1929. Ile.-Ife
STATE OF ORIGIN: Osun State
MARITALSTATUS: Married with 5 Children (3 boys 2 girls)
EDUCATION/DATE: Elementary: St James Primary School Oke Bola, Ibadan 1935-1942. Ilesha
Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State, 1943-1948.
CAREER:
Joined UAC Limited, on 26th January, 1943. And on April 19, 1957, was placed on 5 Years Management Training in UAC Transport Department thus exposing him to all Cargo Documentations including Nigerian Railways, NPA Shipping Etc. In 1958, upon Completing Local Training, was posted to Deep-Sea Going Vessel M/V Oguta Palm as an Acting Assistant purser.
On arrival in Liverpool U.K, he was scheduled to undergo handling of Vessels documentation from bookings to dispatch to loading shed, preparation of stowage plan (conventional and hazardous cargo), preparation of Ship’s manifest for 6 months at all ports, enroute payment of salary to all categories of Seafarers. Later promoted to Asst. purser position on MV Enugu, Palm after that, World-wide Agent-Kilick Martins for 3 months, thence London Docks-Tilbury Docks.
MAIN PORTS OF CALL:
Liverpool, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Rotterdarn, Hamburg, Bremen.
Returned to Lagos in 1960 Proceeded to job for 6 weeks on Advanced Account Course Organized by UAC of Nigeria, Promoted to full management Status and was posted to Apapa Wharf as Assistant Cargo Supervisor in 1961.
TRAINING EXPERIENCE:
1962: UAC London organized a 6 week senior very competitive management Course in Surrey (Four Acres London). In attendance were managers from Unilever interests throughout the world. On Completion of the course, returned to Lagos. In 1963, was posted to Port-Harcourt to re-organize Port-Harcourt Clearing and Forwarding Business of Palm Line Agencies of Nigeria Limited. Every year thereafter, was attending various courses in United Kingdom.
Towards the end of 1969, was transferred to Calabar for 6 months during the Civil war and was responsible for transferring Palm Line Agencies Operations to NPA Calabar as Port Manager. In addition to these, looked over all UAC of Nigeria Limited businesses in Calabar. Upon return to Lagos from Calabar, was posted to London for six months to canvas and book export cargoes to all West African ports.
Seized the unique opportunity to study at World Wide Institute of Transport, passed in 1970. Upon return to Lagos, took over the position of Lagos Manager with 8 Expatriate Managers a subordinates. At that time, Palm Line Agencies had an assets of over 30 Managers, 8 Expatriates and N30 billion worth of vessels.
Became the Nigeria General Manager between 1978-1984; reporting directly to the Chairman, UAC of Nigeria Limited and Chairman, Palm Line Agencies Limited, London.
HELD AGENCIES FOR THE FOLLOWING FOREIGN COUNTRIES:
• Palm Line Limited London
• Barber West African Line, New York
• Mitsui O.S.K. Tokyo, Japan
• Clearance Exports in Nigerian-all Imports and Exports of UAC Ltd to Overseas Ports
POSITIONS HELD:
Chairman: Clearing and Forwarding Trade Group-Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 4 Years 1970-1975
Chairman: Shipping Trade Group for 6 Years (Port Security). 1975-1981
NPA Board Member for 7 Years
Board Member, Nigeria Shippers Council Board (1978-1985)
Member, Board of Trustee of Cargo Defence Fund
National President Nigeria Institute of Shipping 1983-2003.
Life Patron of Nigeria Institute of Shipping
Hon .Life Vice President – Nigeria Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mine and Agriculture
Hon. Life-Vice President – Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry
President ,Rotary Club Apapa- 1980
Chairman, National Consciousness and Awareness by the Lagos State Governor.
, Installed
In December 1980, installed as the Chief Maiyegun of Ile Ife by his Royal Highness, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II- Ooni of Ife
Since employed by UACN Plc in 1949, was never at any time involved in Civil or Criminal Offence with the Police or Court
HOBBY: Football and Reading.
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