The Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA) has condemned
the creation of a parallel ship-owners association.
the creation of a parallel ship-owners association.
The
association’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ilori, expressed this in an
interview in Lagos.
association’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Ilori, expressed this in an
interview in Lagos.
It would be recalled that a group of 22 indigenous ship-owners who were aggrieved following the
outcome of the association’s election that held in 2014, formed the Ship-owners
Association of Nigeria (SOAN) in April 2015.
outcome of the association’s election that held in 2014, formed the Ship-owners
Association of Nigeria (SOAN) in April 2015.
President of
the SOAN, Mr Greg Ogbeifun, had told Newsmen at a briefing that the association’s members still
had their membership with NISA.
the SOAN, Mr Greg Ogbeifun, had told Newsmen at a briefing that the association’s members still
had their membership with NISA.
He also stated
that the new association was established to facilitate participation of
Nigerian ship-owners in international fora on shipping matters through
effective representation at such meetings.
that the new association was established to facilitate participation of
Nigerian ship-owners in international fora on shipping matters through
effective representation at such meetings.
The NISA
publicity secretary, Ilori, however, said that claims by SOAN in championing a
course was only an excuse as NISA had provisions to take care of such needs.
publicity secretary, Ilori, however, said that claims by SOAN in championing a
course was only an excuse as NISA had provisions to take care of such needs.
He said that
the development was not in any way good for the ship owners sector and the
larger maritime industry.
the development was not in any way good for the ship owners sector and the
larger maritime industry.
“We have
been told that they still remain members, but then, there is provision within
the constitution to address some of the issues that they claim they are now
championing.
been told that they still remain members, but then, there is provision within
the constitution to address some of the issues that they claim they are now
championing.
“This is
going to cause a division for the Nigerian Ship owners industry, for the
Nigerian maritime industry and such division are not necessary at this time.
going to cause a division for the Nigerian Ship owners industry, for the
Nigerian maritime industry and such division are not necessary at this time.
“We need to
speak with one voice to be able to articulate and address the problem of the
industry,’’ Ilori said.
speak with one voice to be able to articulate and address the problem of the
industry,’’ Ilori said.
Ilori said
that the ship-owners association would review the development and act
appropriately to avoid being dragged back to where it had long gone past.
that the ship-owners association would review the development and act
appropriately to avoid being dragged back to where it had long gone past.
“We will
review this and appropriate action will be taken in line with the constitution
of the Nigerian Ship-owners Association.
review this and appropriate action will be taken in line with the constitution
of the Nigerian Ship-owners Association.
“I believe
that democratically, Nigerian ship-owners have come of age, and we cannot
afford issues that will drag the industry back to the dark ages,” he said.
that democratically, Nigerian ship-owners have come of age, and we cannot
afford issues that will drag the industry back to the dark ages,” he said.
Ilori stated
that no self-serving action would be in the interest of job-creating
opportunities as expected of the Nigerian shipping industry.
that no self-serving action would be in the interest of job-creating
opportunities as expected of the Nigerian shipping industry.
He said it
was regrettable for anyone to stand against a free, fair and credible election
that produced a set of competent industry players who can confidently respond
to all issues in the industry.
was regrettable for anyone to stand against a free, fair and credible election
that produced a set of competent industry players who can confidently respond
to all issues in the industry.
Speaking
with Ogbeifun on the issue, he said the association was focused developing the
shipping sector for the benefit of the economy.
with Ogbeifun on the issue, he said the association was focused developing the
shipping sector for the benefit of the economy.
