Yet again, Nigeria seems set for another jamboree to the IMO Council election, going by indications from the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Chief Adegboyega Oyetola, who a fortnight ago hinted in far away Spain that Nigeria is set to give another shot at this third tier category of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Oyetola who spoke at an IMO organized parallel World Maritime Day in the Spanish capital said, “Our active participation in upholding key conventions such as Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and the International Ships and Port Facility (ISPS) Code reflects our dedication to ensuring safety of international shipping”, insisting that “there has been no incidence of piracy in the last three years”. But regrettably, Oyetola’s assurance was devoid of any specific intervention(s) to address the myriad of issues thrown up during IMO’s audit visit to Nigeria years ago.
Nigeria last won the IMO Category ‘C’ seat in 2009 during the tenure of Dr Ade Dosunmu as Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Chairman of the Ministerial technical Committee. Before then, we had won on two previous occasions in 2004 and 2007, in the entire 76 years history of the organization that was established in 1948. NIMASA is reeling from its failure to implement the IMO Member States Audit Scheme (IMSAS).
Since 2011, the country had witnessed a serial failures at every election year. The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible for supervising the work of the organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly except that of recommending to governments on maritime safety, pollution and prevention. The 40-member Council which meets every two years in regular sessions is responsible for electing members.
The Council is divided into three categories. Category ‘A’ is made up of 10 members who have the largest interest in providing international shipping services and is made up of countries such as the UK, the US, Japan, Norway, China among others. The only African country on this category is Liberia. There are also 10 countries under Category ‘B’, but with no African nation making the list. Under category ‘C’ for which Nigeria aspires to belong, only three African countries make up the list of 20 . They are Kenya, Morocco and Egypt. But Dayo Mobereola, Director General of NIMASA is convinced Nigeria will make the list in its next attempt, even though industry experts are sceptical about his renewed optimism.
Maritime experts who spoke on condition of anonymity insist Mobereola with barely 10 months under his cap as boss of the Agency is still learning the ropes and lacks the technical depth of what the IMO audit entails. But an optimistic Mobereola said in Spain a fortnight ago: “We at NIMASA have met with the IMO technical team and commenced work on all identified grey areas so that Nigeria can address those gaps identified during the last audit by the IMO. We have also commenced the process of effective communication with other member states using the IMOGSIS platform”. The NIMASA helmsman assured that while his Agency will focus on the technical aspects of the preparation, the supervising Ministry will provide the needed political leadership.
However, critical maritime operators are not in any way amused about this seeming optimism. As in previous failed attempts, they see this as a jamboree and a waste of tax payers’ money. Said one of such stakeholders: “If the likes of Dr. Dakuku Peterside who is more grounded in this industry capitulated twice; once in 2019 and again in 2021, I wonder where Dayo Mobereola is drawing this optimism from”, he said.
If I were Dayo Mobereola, I will get my priorities right by first putting my house in order but joining the bandwagon of seeking a Council ‘C’ seat amounts to putting the cart before the horse. He must peruse the check list and see if NIMASA has substantially complied with the IMO audit queries. And thereafter, invite the team to carry out an independent review of the level of compliance.
LAST LINE:
Dear, Dayo Mobereola, maybe nobody has brought this to your attention yet. Nigerian shipowners are becoming increasingly worried about your silence or seeming nonchalance to their fate and welfare. They want you to give Nigerians a time line on when the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) will commence. Or does it not bother you that their cries seem to have fallen on deaf ears?