By Emmanuel Udodinma
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime has inuagurated the newly elected executive of the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN).
At the inuaguration ceremony tagged, “A Breakfast Meeting On Deplorable State of Tincan Island Port”, held Thursday in Lagos, the NSC boss who is a lawyer administered the oath of office to the 9-man newly elected MARAN exco led by Mr Godfrey Bivbere as President and Mr Gboyega Oni as Vice President.
Other members of the Executive include: Babajide Okeowo, General Secretary; Pearl Ngwama, Assistant Secretary; Collins Abbah, Financial Secretary; Joy Mmereole, Treasurer; Sandra Chukwunyere, Public Relations Officer/Internal Auditor; whereas Dapo Olawumi and Joy Enamuna are ex-officio members of the new Executive.
Speaking while inuagurating the new exco, Hon Jime thanked the foremost maritime reporters body for the warm reception accorded him when he was appointed to head the Nigerian Shippers Council, and the cordial working relationship they have maintained with him ever since.
He also praised MARAN for taking the initiative to host a breakfast meeting on the Deplorable State of Infrastructure at Tincan Island Port, which according to him has brought about a robust discourse aimed at proffering solutions to the issue.
He however pledged to collaborate with the association in their efforts to finding lasting solutions to the myriads of issues bedeveling the sector. Even as he called on the leadership of the association to make him integral part of their planning for programmes like this as it makes his work easier as the Port Economic Regulator.
On his own, the Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mohammed Bello-koko ably re-presented by the General Manager, MD’s Office, Mr Ayodele Durowaye said that NPA has a close affinity with MARAN as the foremost maritime beat association.
He maintained that the Port Authority holds MARAN at high esteem and would continue to partner with the body on their programmes aimed at improving port operations in the country.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Breakfast Meeting/Inuaguration Ceremony, Chief Dr Eugene Nweke commended MARAN for being at the vanguard of maritime reportage in Nigeria.
The renowned freight forwarder tasked the association leadership and members to beam their investigative searchlight on areas of charges, tariffs and cost of doing business in the Nigerian maritime sector.
Earlier in his Welcome Address, the new President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere thanked stakeholders for attending the occasion. He called for the federal government to consider expempting maritime agencies from certain bureaucratic processes to enable them quickly address issues like the one at Tincan Island Port.
According to Bivbere, “While it is expected out of habit that some people would have been pointing accusing fingers at the Nigerian Ports Authority for allowing such critical facility deteriorate to the point they are presently, it must be said that being a government parastatal; fortunately and unfortunately, it’s capital expenditure must have to pass through the procurement processes which takes a lot of time.
“I doubt if there’s anybody here who is not familiar with our bureaucratic bottleneck.
As stakeholders in the maritime sector, we all know that some capital projects in the industry do not have the luxury of time with regards to their execution.
“It is my considered view therefore, that given our circumstances, the Federal Government should become more representative and exempt the maintenance or replacement of critical facilities from the Civil Service procurement processes”, he opined.
Speaking further, Bivbere added that another challenge faced by not just the NPA but all government agencies in the industry is the involvement of politicians in almost all financial expenditures, which according to him, makes it often difficult for things to get done correctly.
Other notable maritime dignitaries who attended the Breakfast Meeting/Inauguration Ceremony of New MARAN Executive are the Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Barr Temisan Omatseye; the President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Com Prince Adewale Adeyunju; the President of Barge Operators Association of Nigeria, Mr Olubunmi Olumekun, Mr Bem Ibrahim Garba, Managing Director, GOG Marine Ltd, amongst others.
