Despite our seemingly poor economic fortunes, rising insecurity, high inflation and poverty figures, the last couple of weeks and days have witnessed is a season of victories, laurels and Gold medals for Nigeria and Nigerians. And as usual, the motivation for the celebrations have come from the sporting arena where Nigeria’s female soccer team, the super falcons and the female basket ball team , D ‘ Tigress conquered Africa with their scintillating performances.
The victory songs and dances have defied political, ethnic and religious divides. Even the hungry and poor came out to celebrate our victorious girl. This was certainly a great relief for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration has come under intense criticism on account of some unpopular policies and decisions. For majority of Nigerians, his policies have driven more Nigerians into poverty. From Sokoto to Lagos , and from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, there has been wailing and gnashing of teeth in the last two years .And trust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he quickly grabbed the moment as the celebrations of these victorious sports women swept across the length and breadth of the country. While these celebrations are going on there’s one Nigerian who is desperately in search for three beautiful laurels, three “gold medals” , to hand over to Mr President before year ends. He is Dr Dayo Mobereola, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. NIMASA. Dr Mobereola who was appointed March last year by President Bola Tinubu took off on a seeming shaky note. His take off was very turbulent and unimpressive. But somehow, he appears to be gradually stabilising and finding his feet.He has proven to be a fast learner even as some sceptics think he still has more grounds to cover in the way and manner he runs Nigeria’s Maritime Administration. But despite these misgivings, Mobereola seems focused on his three key deliverables which include the Disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund,CVFF,Nigeria’s return to IMO category C and deployment of the controversial NIMASA N50b floating dock. His immediate boss and supervising Minister, Adegboyega Oyetola. says these key deliverables must and should be presented to Mr President by year end. In the last couple of months, not much has been heard about the floating dock which was delivered during the days of Dakuku Peterside as NIMASA helmsman. Dayo Mobereola and his team at NIMASA have been more preoccupied with the drive for Nigeria to return to the elite Council “,C” of the International Maritime Organization. Having failed in three consecutive attempts to return to category C, the NIMASA helmsman along with the team at the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy are determined not to disappoint President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In the case of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF, NIMASA , we understand has done due diligence by engaging 12 primary lending institutions (PLIs) who have all accepted a single digit interest regime .As it stands, the ball seems to be in the court of Nigeria shipowners who are expected to put their 15 per cent contribution on the table,out of $25m earmarked for each successful beneficiary. On the other hand, the lending banks are to provide 35per cent with NIMASA adding the balance 50 per cent. For Dayo Mobereola, this is certainly a race against time if these deliverables must be achieved by year end. These are indeed the three ” gold medals ” he must deliver to President Tinubu if he must secure his job as Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency in the years ahead.