Welcome To 2016

There is no doubt that 2015 will draw more attention to the Nigerian maritime sector than the years before it. Of course, the sector has never lacked attention, but the reality of spiralling drop in the price of crude oil presupposes that government will in 2016 put pressure on revenue earning sectors and agencies, and this is where the maritime sector comes in.
We like to recall that towards the end of 2014, the then- Minister of Finance; Dr. Okonjo-Iweala gave inkling as to what 2015 would look like; she dropped the bombshell that Nigeria should be viewed henceforth as a non-oil producing nation and needs to explore new revenue sources as a result of the decline in the price of crude oil.
True to her warning, the price of oil has been falling unprecedentedly.
Of course, with the 2015 budget predicated on crude oil price of $US73 per barrel, not much could be expected, and as 2016 rolls in, the price of crude oil per barrel keeps nose-diving more. In the face of unchecked fall in price of crude oil, the nation’s expenditure portfolio will be adversely affected.
It is with these expectations that the maritime sector moved into 2015, of course with high hopes and lots of apprehension.
Of course, 2015 came with a lot of surprises and sweet things. First was the extension of the take-off date for the full commencement of the auto policy from January 1 to April.
Because it was an elections year, 2015 saw the sack and appointments of chief executives, albeit for political reasons. How does one forget the sack and re-appointment of the managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authourity (NPA); Mallam Habib Abdulahi, the removal of Dikko Abdulahi Inde and the appointment of Col Hameed Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller General of Customs, and of course, the removal of Ziakede Akpobolokemi and emergence of Haruna Baba Jauro as the acting Director General of NIMASA. These were some of the dramas that characterise 2015.
Apart from the controversy that trailed the introduction of Cargo Tracking Note and the dramas mentioned above, one can safely say that 2015 wasn’t too far different from 2014.
Notably, some of the issues that ushered 2013 into 2014 also ushered 2014 into 2015 and these have also led us into 2016 and that is why some have argued that nothing significant has changed.

The state of the access routes into Lagos ports was the main issue in 2015 as it was in 2013 and 2014, and were it not for the assurances that were given by members of the Senate committee on marine transport, one would have predicted that it will still remain a major issue, even in 2016.
Notwithstanding the visit of the Senate committee headed by Alhaji Sani Yerima , all the assurances that were given by ministers and even officials of the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant ministries as regards the completion of Apapa Oshodi expressway have remained just what they are – assurances!
It is sad that the crisis which engulfed the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) in 2012 has lasted four years and there is no hope that 2016 will change anything. The crisis has made the CRFFN to operate without the statutory governing council. It is sad that the CRFFN is again coming into 2016, still without a governing council and also with its delayed request for collection of transaction fees that are payable on all imports into the country.
The attitude of the leaders of the freight forwarding associations towards the resolution of the conflict which has crippled the council is totally ridiculous and counter-productive. We appeal to both NAGAFF and ANLCA to bury their ego and lead the reconciliation efforts. It is in the ultimate interests of their members.
We are however very hopeful that the CRFFN logjam will finally be resolved in 2016 to enable the body put its act together and get back to the good old days.
Also as we move into 2016, we are optimistic that Nigerian ports will continue to witness high vessel traffic and that the nation’s port system will witness more sanity.
One issue that has become recurrent, (at least in the last eight years) is the delay in the passage of some maritime sector bills by the National Assembly. It is taking the legislators too long a time to pass the Ports and Harbour Bill and the Chartered Institute of Shipping of Nigeria Bill, among others.
Members of the legislature will continue to score low grades, especially with the non-passage of the Port and Harbour Bill, a bill which incorporates the Independent Port Regulatory Commission (IPRC). The Bill enjoys an unenviable record of being one of the most delayed and the most controversial legislations since the return to democratic rule.
It is our hope that in n2016, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will be able to retrace its steps as the nation’s Port and Flag State Control agency. We note with concern that the agency has allowed the Nigerian Navy to take the shine off it in the quest to make the nation’s coastal and inland waters safe for navigation.
Perhaps, appointment of professionals to run the agency is the answer. Putting political considerations above qualifications has always been the bane of the agency. The appointment of the immediate past DG; Ziakede Akpobolokemi is a clear example of a square peg in a round hole.
It is certain that a lot more searchlight will be beamed on the Nigerian maritime sector in 2015, by the Federal Government for revenue to fund its budget. This means that agencies such: NPA, Customs and NIMASA will be expected to spend less and save more, areas of revenue leakages will also be expected to be blocked.

Besides the above postulations, it is our hope that 2016 will be better than 2015, and that we all have a fulfilling year.