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| Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN |
Dr Olisa Agbakoba, a human rights activist and maritime lawyer, on
Tuesday said the calls on government to establish a maritime ministry might not
be possible.
Tuesday said the calls on government to establish a maritime ministry might not
be possible.
Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) who made this observation at a news conference in Lagos,
said it had been made clear that the government would rather run a lean but
effective administration.
said it had been made clear that the government would rather run a lean but
effective administration.
“The agenda of Buhari’s government was well defined by
Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference
that ministries and departments are likely to shrink.
Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference
that ministries and departments are likely to shrink.
“So, I don’t think that the suggestion for a maritime ministry is
feasible.
feasible.
“The government is underpinned by being lean and efficient,
therefore, suggestions that there might be new ministries is unlikely.
therefore, suggestions that there might be new ministries is unlikely.
“Rather, you will find that ministries, departments and agencies
will shrink.
will shrink.
“What might happen is, in fact, bringing together all the multi-
modal transportation agencies under one umbrella, and I don’t think it matters
anyway,’’ the human rights activist said.
modal transportation agencies under one umbrella, and I don’t think it matters
anyway,’’ the human rights activist said.
He stressed that he was in support of the idea that a lean
government would impact on the economy since about 80 per cent of the nation’s
resources was spent on recurrent expenses.
government would impact on the economy since about 80 per cent of the nation’s
resources was spent on recurrent expenses.
Agbakoba added that this needed to be balanced such that more
money was spent on capital and human resources than recurrent.
money was spent on capital and human resources than recurrent.
He said that government only needed to create an enabling
environment, right partnerships with the private sector and ensure that the cabotage
regime was enforced.
environment, right partnerships with the private sector and ensure that the cabotage
regime was enforced.
The maritime lawyer added that the enforcement of the cabotage
would benefit the private sector through the Cabotage Trade Act.
would benefit the private sector through the Cabotage Trade Act.
He said that this could be handled by a very strong department in
the ministry of transport.
the ministry of transport.
‘’I believe that a good and dedicated department in the ministry
of transport can work to achieve the expected revenue that is desirable from
the maritime industry for government.’’
of transport can work to achieve the expected revenue that is desirable from
the maritime industry for government.’’
On his evaluation of the Buhari administration’s first 100 days,
Agbakoba said this evaluation should be done in the right context.
Agbakoba said this evaluation should be done in the right context.
He urged Nigerians to understand that the change they voted for
through Buhari would be in the minds of the people and not in the context of
new projects.
through Buhari would be in the minds of the people and not in the context of
new projects.
He stressed that it may also not be new buildings or the
commissioning of new roads and power plants, as he expressed satisfaction that
more Nigerians had become positive towards the anti-corruption crusade,
aligning more with doing things properly.
commissioning of new roads and power plants, as he expressed satisfaction that
more Nigerians had become positive towards the anti-corruption crusade,
aligning more with doing things properly.
Agbakoba also called for a decentralized federalism where all the
powers would not be concentrated at the centre, but have the states to be more
useful in handling a lot of issues concerning the states.
powers would not be concentrated at the centre, but have the states to be more
useful in handling a lot of issues concerning the states.
To this end, the former President of the NBA, stressed the need to
expunge the federal character provision in the constitution, with a belief that
it would make the people more efficient in their duties.
expunge the federal character provision in the constitution, with a belief that
it would make the people more efficient in their duties.
