The newly elected Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, NPCC, Mr. Bolaji Sunmola has relieved his last moment with the late maritime icon, Engr. Olu Akinsoji with respect to the Nigerian Maritime industry.
Speaking in an interview with Primetime Reporters in Lagos recently, Mr. Sunmola recalled how late Akinsoji spoke passionately about the Cabotage regime in even as he regretted that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA had derailed from the Cabotage regime as originally conceived. He noted that the Cabotage as being implemented today was not what the initiators planned.
According to Sunmola , “Look at it, the local shipping industry is dying. That’s an enormous industry that can be regenerated for our youth, for our industry, for revenue. Now, look at, there is no local ship movement and that really touched me. He said the whole of NIMASA, that’s what they are created for, why are they not doing that? Where is the shipping policy? Wherr are the ships that are supposed to carry local cargoes even if we cannot do international movement?
“What about the freight? Why are we continuing to pay CIF and not have our FOB? So many issues that he raised that I felt challenging but unfortunately, we couldn’t get him to freshen it up. These are the things I will be having my eyes on.
“We must create, now we call it marine and blue economy, we must create a true marine and blue economy that will serve the locals, that will serve you and I so that we can leave a legacy for our children’s children, that is the generations coming behind us so that they can have something they can lean on. Not too much talk but too many actions for us to see that things are done. it is not by fight but we have to create our own niche.to see that it is done.
“All I want is not by myself like I keep saying, we will create a team that cuts across the whole industry so that everybody has a contribution. This NPCC – Nigerian Ports Consultative Council is for all even you the journalists have a role to play. For instance, we have not seen you in the Council, you only come to cover our activities, no! You should be part of the Council too, you should have your representation in the Council because it is a Council. So, it should embrace all manner of players in that industry. That’s what we intend to do.
“Our agenda will be very well articulated, our plans, our strategies will be in the open for everybody to see. During my tenure, we shall be open for criticisms and contributions, nothing will be hidden from the people.”
Photo: Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, Chairman, Nigerian Ports Consultative Council, NPCC.
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