Enebeli Emerges as NIS President, Seeks “Presidential Order” on National Shipping Policy

…Bello-Koko, Jime, Usoro Clinch Fellowship Awards

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Frontline ship chandler, Dr Martin Enebeli has emerged as the President of the Nigerian Institute of Shipping (NIS) even as he called on President Muhammadu Buhari to give a Presidential Order on the creation of a National Shipping Policy for Nigeria.

Dr Enebeli was elected at the 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Awards Ceremony of the institute which took place in Lagos on Thursday.
He took over from Capt Tony Onaharigho who has served two tenures of two years each

Other executives elected alongside Dr Enebeli are three Vice Presidents namely, Mr Segun Elufioye, Mrs Chizoba Ayinka and Mr Francis Omotosho.

Mrs Julian Saka emerged as National Secretary, Capt. Tajudeen Alao as National Treasurer and Dr Taiwo Oshigbo as Financial Secretary.

The NIS also bestowed fellowship awards on the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Muhammed Bello-Koko and Hon Emmanuel Jime of Nigerian Shipper’s Council.

Other recipients of award are Onoharigho as life patron, Mfon Usoro, Mrs Ngozi Obikili, Capt. Ebubeogu Iheanacho, Alhaji Aminu Umar, Commodore Abdul Baba-Inna, and others.
Sea Transport Services Nigeria Ltd., and Propetrol Nigeria Ltd., got the Co-operate award and 21 person were inducted as members of the institute.

Speaking with journalists at the event, Dr Enebeli noted that without a proper and well spelt out shipping policy, the maritime industry would continue to be at the lowest ebb, and would not be able to attain hub status within the sub-region.

“We had a Shipping Policy, Decree 10 of 1987 which is the Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA) shipping policy, what we need to do now is build on this, and move a step further by advising Mr President who has the powers to make regulations, he can make a Presidential Order without necessarily going to the two National Assembly to legislate on it

“When he makes a Presidential Order, we would have a clear direction, particularly because of our strategic importance in the sub-region.

“Nigeria is the centre of the maritime world today, even though we are presently at the lowest ebb, we however control about 65percent of the cargo throughput within the sub-region. If we have this, then we need to be the hub, not smaller countries.

“It is in view of this that we are calling on Mr President to immediately put in place, a Maritime Executive Order so that we would be able to upgrade the Shipping Policy we already have which is the Decree 10 of 1987 that created NMA” he said

The new NIS President in his acceptance speech, promised to pursue the Chatter Bill of the institute which has already scaled second reading at the Senate.

Enebeli also promised to expedite action on providing a permanent site and building for the institute. He equally vowed to ensure standards in training and certificates being issued by the institute and to address the paucity of funds.

Speaking earlier in lecture with the theme: Resolving the Dilemma of International Seaborne Trade in Nigeria, Prof. Bamidele Badejo, former Dean, Faculty of Social and Management Services, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State stated that Nigeria is toiling with the fortunes of its maritime advantages.

Badejo lamented the absence of a National Shipping Policy, even as he stressed the need for policy consistency to enable the shipping industry to thrive in the country.

He also urged government to tackle issues affecting trade in the seaport which he listed as insecurity, banditry and gridlock, among others.

Capt. Anthony Onoharigho, outgoing president of NIS, urged the new executive to pursue a permanent site for the institute and to continue driving the Chatter Bill.