NANFeatures/Vol.11/No.115/2017 (Aug. 1)
IMO Council: High expectations on Nigeria’s readiness for re-election
By Adeleye Ajayi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Expectations are high as Nigeria prepares for re-election to Category C of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which the country lost some years ago.
Eager to meet such expectations in the election to hold in London from Nov. 27 to Dec. 8, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has been working round the clock to bring Nigeria back to relevance in that regard.
Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi early this year announced President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for Nigeria to re-contest the election.
According to him, the Federal Government is desirous that Nigeria should regain the seat in the council.
Also, he says the presidency insists that there is need for effective African participation at the IMO Council to give African states one voice at the global level.
The hosting the Association of African Maritime Administrations conference in Abuja in April by NIMASA led by its Director-General, Dr Dakuku Peterside further provoked Nigeria’s desire to return to the council.
Stakeholders in maritime as well observe that by hosting the conference, it is clear that Nigeria is set to become a leading voice in the comity of maritime nations, especially as it seeks re-election to the council.
The IMO Council is made up of 40 countries elected in three categories A, B and C with China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, Panama, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, UK and the U.S. in Category A; having the largest interest in providing international shipping services.
In Category B, there are Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden with the largest interest in international seaborne trade.
Category C comprises 20 states with special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.
Nigeria became a member of IMO on March 15, 1962 but was expelled during the administration of the late Head of State Sani Abacha.
However, the country was readmitted in 1999 with the return of civilian rule and in 2000 and the late Minister of Transport Ojo Madueke led a delegation to secure Nigeria’s election as Category C Council member.
The country could not, however, secure enough votes to retain its seat on the council after the initial two years.
The country, nonetheless, staged a return in 2007 and served two consecutive terms until 2011, when it could not garner enough votes to retain its seat and did not participate in the 2013 election of the council.
Stakeholders also note that with Peterside’s election as the President of Association of African Maritime Administrations, Nigeria will serve as a rallying point for other African, Asian and European countries for international maritime administration.
In his view, Peterside said, given the mandates of restructuring, repositioning and reforming the maritime sector by Buhari, NIMASA had taken strategic steps to ensure that the mandates were achieved.
“To ensure that our mandates are achieved, we developed a medium-term strategic plan with five pillars.
“The steps taken were yielding results as evident in the reduction of piracy and other sea-related crimes in Nigerian territorial waters.
“The Nigerian maritime industry holds the key to unlocking the opportunities of the sector in the whole of Africa because of its strategic location, population and volume of trade.
“If anyone wants to do business in Africa, Nigeria is the place of choice and Nigeria’s chances are bright at the forthcoming IMO election due to the numerous achievements of NIMASA.
“NIMASA operates a 24-hour surveillance system which captures all vessels in the Nigerian maritime domain, irrespective of weather conditions.
“It has also reshaped and is fast accomplishing its mandates to see Nigeria through the hurdles of the IMO election,’’ he said.
In his opinion, Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at IMO Council, Alhaji Diko Balla, lauded the efforts of the management of NIMASA to bring Nigeria back to the leadership position in global maritime community.
He said the present NIMASA management’s efforts had led to a great improvement of the country’s relationship with the IMO as a body and other maritime administrations.
“The move is in line with Buhari’s drive to integrate the nation back into global affairs; Nigeria was among the first 10 countries to submit itself for the IMO Member States Audit Scheme.
“This is seen by the IMO as a show of direction of the current administration of maritime in Nigeria by the IMO,’’ he said.
According to him, the achievement of Peterside-led management in the past one year is an indication that the nation’s maritime sector is heading in the right direction.
“The fact that the IMO is collaborating with Nigeria much more in the areas of trainings and technical support shows that the international body is satisfied with NIMASA’s operations in recent times.
“By November, I can assure you that Nigeria’s election to the Category C at the IMO will be an overwhelming one,’’ Balla said.
He recalled that when Nigeria lost the category C seat in IMO, its implementation status was less than 13 per cent, observing that Nigeria had more than 85 per cent compliance level presently.
“This is an indication that the international community is watching and appreciating NIMASA’s efforts,’’ Balla said.
Commending the efforts of NIMASA so far, Mr Olu Akinsoji, a former Nigeria’s Alternate Permanent Representative at the IMO, advised the agency to maintain good standing on the implementation of IMO mandatory instruments.
Akinsoji suggested effective regional cooperation concerning IMO projects such as Search and Rescue (security), observing that there should be favourable disposition by NIMASA towards the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa and the Abuja agreement on Port State Control.
With the enthusiasm of the management of NIMASA, the Chairman, Port Consultative Council, Chief Kunle Folarin, said Nigeria would be re-admitted to IMO Council.
“Nigeria will have a voice in the administration of the IMO conventions and will maintain its admission in the White List,’’ he observed.
Observers also note that if Nigeria could be re-elected to Category C, it will ensure a global balance among the member states that make up the IMO Council, noting that African countries presently in the category are Egypt, Kenya, South Africa and Liberia.
IMO is the United Nations specialised agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and prevention of marine pollution by ships.
The IMO Council, which is elected biennially, is the executive organ of the organisation and is responsible for supervising its works between sessions of the IMO General Assembly.
The council performs all the functions of the assembly, except that of making recommendations to governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.
To stand a better chance of re-election, maritime industry watchers, therefore, advise that Nigeria should sustain outstanding maritime administration.(NANFeatures)
**If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)