By Citizen Innocent Orok
Today 19th March, 2024 makes a week (7 days), since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity announced the appointment of Dr Dayo Mobereola as the new Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ( NIMASA), Nigeria’s Maritime regulatory agency.
Dr Bashir Yusuf JAMOH has handed over the mantle of leadership of the agency on Monday the 11th of March, 2024 to the Executive Director , Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile.Jamoh has completed his four years tenure on Mach 10, he couldn’t get a second term, so he hands off.
As expected, barely 24 hrs , on Wednesday 12th March 2024, Dr Dayo Mobereola, a former Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority ( LAMATA) a Lagos State owned agency was named as the new DG of the agency.
But, sadly after the media have feasted on the story of his appointment , seven days after , nobody knows, hear or write about the whereabout of the new DG of NIMASA.
Where is Dr Dayo Mobereola?
Who is in charge of NIMASA now, is it Chudi Offordile or Dr Dayo Mobereola in absence?
What is really happening in NIMASA now regarding the leadership or has Dr Dayo Mobereola resumed office secretly? Are people or somebody contesting his appointment that might have made him to stay a way for a week?
Am afraid this is not the way to start or handle an international agency which activities of shipping and maritime activities are reading per second. Then why should it take an appointee to such an agency not to resume office after a week of appointment.?
Does it mean Dr Dayo Mobereola was not ready for the job or is he secretly studying the books? If so Nigerians and Maritime stakeholders should know. After all, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Managing Director of NIWA and the Executive Secretary and CEO of NSC are all in silent mode, in their various offices. He too can join the que.
Am afraid with the way and manner the Marine and Blue Economy Ministry and its ” Learners ” leadership are going and the conspiracy of silence by stakeholders and the maritime media, we are likely delving into another moribund, but highly politicise Maritime Industry in the days ahead.
Sooner or later , the blame game will start and the industry will be thrown into chop and go as usual.
I asked again, where is the new NIMASA DG?
*Citizen Innocent Orok is a Journalist based in Lagos
Email: roamrepporters@gmail.com.
