Lack of synergy between
maritime relevant stakeholders has robbed the industry of the necessary working legal framework.
A former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mrs Mfon Usoro said this during Maritime Stakeholders Forum to mark the 70th birthday of Chief Adebayo Sarumi, the Aare Parakoyi of Ibadan, held in Lagos recently.
Usoro said time had come for all well-meaning groups in the industry to close ranks inorder to surmount the problems plaguing the industry.
She applauded the activities of the celebrant whom she said at 70 is still physically fit, and prayed that God would continue to multiply his wisdom and knowledge while granting him more fulfilled years.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) Barr. Hassan Bello said that Sarumi’s passion for the industry was rooted in ensuring that relevant legal frameworks are always in place which created professional linkages that are beneficial to the industry aimed at attracting investment.
Bello, who incidentally was employed into NSC by the celebrant noted that he consciously developed an intellectual power house to drive his vision of a maritime industry worthy of making life more abundant for Nigerians and stakeholders, as “it was during his time that the Inland Container Terminals, Depot (ICT) was conceptualised,” he said.
In his remarks, a one time managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Alhaji Abdulsalam Mohammed said,” Today we are celebrating a true Nigerian, an advocate of Peace, a man who introduced reforms to the maritime sector when he was beckoned to save the industry and the nation’s economy. We can not but celebrate the great man as we are doing today.”