Why is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, wary of naming Mrs. Chinyere Uramta, substantive Registrar/CEO of the Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN).
The Anambra-born Mrs. Uramta was appointed Acting Registrar/CEO of the Council on February 1, 2023 , upon the expiration of the tenure of former helmsman , Mr. Sam Nwakohu. Or is Oyetola being haunted by the “ghost” of Hadiza Bala Usman, the strong woman at the NPA who had a running battle with her former boss and benefactor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the former Minister of Transportation? Not many Nigerians can forget in a hurry the dirty fight between Amaechi and Hadiza Bala Usman who held sway as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Nigerian Ports Authority.
Hadiza had served under Amaechi who was then the Director General of the 2015 APC Presidential Campaign Council. He had seen in Hadiza a thorough bred and go-getter who carried her briefs with precision and utmost integrity. He had seen a woman whose passion for a better Nigeria was top notch. And so when he saw an opening to fill at Nigerian Ports Authority, he didn’t hesitate in recommending her to President Muhammadu Buhari as the right man for the job. But sadly, it didn’t take long before their relationship went sour.
Industry watchers are therefore at a loss as to why Mrs. Urumta has remained in acting capacity beyond the statutory six months threshold in the extant public service rules. The argument is that the two scenarios are not similar, neither are the dramatis personae. Mr. Oyetola is soft spoken, not over bearing, unlike Amaechi. On the other hand, Uramta looks like the exact opposite of Hadiza. She is not one to engage in numerous battles. She is a woman of few words and very focused on her job. She believes that what will be will be. According to Mr. Kingsley Anaroke, publisher of MMS Plus, the only reason he suspects Mrs. Uramta is being discriminated against has more to do with her gender. Said he: “Uramta was among the few in the system who challenged the unethical and “anything goes” style of the immediate past Registrar of the Council…or could she be “carrying the badge of gender inclusion and diversity as well as associated quality leadership …” Or simply put, is it possible she is being visited by karma, having fought her immediate boss to a standstill, the same way Hadiza traumatized Rotimi Amaechi? However, observers believe it will be foolhardy to compare the milk and honey that flows at Nigerian Ports Authority with the budget of a grade “E” agency such as the CRFFN. Whereas the CRFFN is yet to take its rightful place as a revenue generating agency on account of the various obstacles which lie ahead of her as she forges ahead to implement the controversial professional practising fees at seaports, land borders and airports from clearing agents, Mrs. Uramta is said to have had her hands full in a long drawn battle with a certain senior official of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, whom sources say has a preferred candidate for the job.
It was not clear as at press time how much longer it would take for her appointment to be either confirmed or for her to get booted out from her acting capacity. The Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarders Act was enacted into law on 30th April, 2007. The Council is charged with, amongst others responsibilities, regulating and controlling the practice of freight forwarding in Nigeria and promoting the highest standards of competence and conduct among the practitioners.