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| L-R: President Chartered Institute of Transport Administration Nigeria (CIoTA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh, Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, and Deputy National President, CIoTA, Mr. Darlington Ofor, during a Press Conference at the sidelines of the just concluded National Transport Summit organised by CIoTA in Abuja. |
Nigeria’s
recent experience at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Category C
Council elections of losing by just a vote, has given the nation broader
understanding of how politics dictates countries’ positions in the Council.
recent experience at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Category C
Council elections of losing by just a vote, has given the nation broader
understanding of how politics dictates countries’ positions in the Council.
The
Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, shared that view while addressing newsmen in Abuja at the
sidelines of the just-concluded National Transport Summit organized by the
Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA) Nigeria.
Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)
Dr. Dakuku Peterside, shared that view while addressing newsmen in Abuja at the
sidelines of the just-concluded National Transport Summit organized by the
Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIoTA) Nigeria.
Dakuku
stated that though it would have been great for Nigeria to win, losing the IMO
Council elections wasn’t a reflection of poor maritime administration for the
country.
stated that though it would have been great for Nigeria to win, losing the IMO
Council elections wasn’t a reflection of poor maritime administration for the
country.
He referred
to the fact that the Nigerian maritime administration was doing more in terms
of maritime activities compared to other African maritime nations who won the
elections.
to the fact that the Nigerian maritime administration was doing more in terms
of maritime activities compared to other African maritime nations who won the
elections.
“The
election of any country is a function of international politics. It is not a
function of IMO or as a result of what the administration of the country does
or didn’t do. Liberia has been at the IMO Council for a long time but Liberia
doesn’t have a strong maritime administration. Kenya doesn’t have a better
maritime administration than Nigeria.
election of any country is a function of international politics. It is not a
function of IMO or as a result of what the administration of the country does
or didn’t do. Liberia has been at the IMO Council for a long time but Liberia
doesn’t have a strong maritime administration. Kenya doesn’t have a better
maritime administration than Nigeria.
“I’m proud
to say that in Africa, Nigeria is the maritime administration that you can
reckon with. You may argue that Liberia has the largest tonnage in Africa, but
Liberia has an open registry. This means that most of the vessels in their
registry aren’t owned by Liberians.
to say that in Africa, Nigeria is the maritime administration that you can
reckon with. You may argue that Liberia has the largest tonnage in Africa, but
Liberia has an open registry. This means that most of the vessels in their
registry aren’t owned by Liberians.
“Nigeria
owns the highest tonnage and this is verifiable in the continent of Africa.
Nigeria is ahead of South Africa, Egypt and all other African nations. In every
area of maritime administration we are ahead of most countries, if not all
African countries.”
owns the highest tonnage and this is verifiable in the continent of Africa.
Nigeria is ahead of South Africa, Egypt and all other African nations. In every
area of maritime administration we are ahead of most countries, if not all
African countries.”
Dakuku
noted that in the case of Qatar, bearing in mind international politics, the
country had to withdraw its candidacy for the elections when it saw that it
would get regional backing.
noted that in the case of Qatar, bearing in mind international politics, the
country had to withdraw its candidacy for the elections when it saw that it
would get regional backing.
“Qatar put
itself forward to run for this election, however, they discovered that other
nations within their region had come together to vote against them. They also
discovered that Europe had agreed to vote against them, so they pulled out of
the elections.”
itself forward to run for this election, however, they discovered that other
nations within their region had come together to vote against them. They also
discovered that Europe had agreed to vote against them, so they pulled out of
the elections.”
He,
therefore, assured continued efforts for optimal maritime administration in
Nigeria.
therefore, assured continued efforts for optimal maritime administration in
Nigeria.
Meanwhile,
the NIMASA DG advised CIoTA to maximize its status as a chartered institute to
improve standards of transport administrators in the country.
the NIMASA DG advised CIoTA to maximize its status as a chartered institute to
improve standards of transport administrators in the country.
He noted
that transportation around the world had observed massive technological
advancement, and encouraged CIoTA to be central to research in order to get
Nigerians up-to-date with transport innovation and administration.
that transportation around the world had observed massive technological
advancement, and encouraged CIoTA to be central to research in order to get
Nigerians up-to-date with transport innovation and administration.
Speaking
further, Dakuku said: “CIoTA owes Nigerians the responsibility of protecting
the interest of those who use transport services. CIoTA should also be at the
forefront of technological changes that would see transportation make minimal
negative impact on the environment.”
further, Dakuku said: “CIoTA owes Nigerians the responsibility of protecting
the interest of those who use transport services. CIoTA should also be at the
forefront of technological changes that would see transportation make minimal
negative impact on the environment.”
In his
response, the President of CIoTA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, assured that the communique
from the conference would address numerous issues plaguing the nation’s
transport sector.
response, the President of CIoTA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, assured that the communique
from the conference would address numerous issues plaguing the nation’s
transport sector.
Dr. Jamoh
reserved special praise for Dr. Dakuku who was also conferred fellowship of the
Institute.
reserved special praise for Dr. Dakuku who was also conferred fellowship of the
Institute.
“It is an
honour to have a distinguished personality like Dr. Dakuku Peterside addressed
as a Fellow of CIoTA,” Jamoh said.
honour to have a distinguished personality like Dr. Dakuku Peterside addressed
as a Fellow of CIoTA,” Jamoh said.
