NISA to reconcile aggrieved members

NISA to reconcile aggrieved members

In its bid to build a very formidable and strong ship owners association, the Nigerian Shipowners Association, NISA, has set up a six-man reconciliation committee to bring back the aggrieved members who had left the association.

A non-member and former National President, Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Prince Olayiwola Shittu and five members of the association  were  nominated into the reconciliation committee for a successful reconciliatory move.

The committee, which is chaired by Mr. Akin Akinyemi, has Engr. Emmanuel Ilori, Capt. Adewale Ishola, Barr. Paul Omolodun and Mr. Edmund Martins as members,  has 20 days to do it work as it is expected to submit its report on November 10, 2022.

Earlier, the association's Steering Committee read its report to the house.

Chairman of the Steering Committee, Prince (Sir) Sonny Omatseye, after narrating actions taken on its terms of reference, stated that the committee was able to secure the commitment and assurances of cooperation by Federal maritime agencies at any time NISA Shipping Line comes on stream.

He however, said that the committee failed to secure the Federal Government position on CVFF release to ship owners.

Omatseye said that the committee completely revised the mission, vision and business focus of the association which will be posted to members in due course.

He said further that the committee held that NISA is highly in need of a secretariat office to operate.

He stated that the committee recommended that elections for NISA executives should be scheduled immediately.

He added that the committee is still waiting to receive the report of assets and funds of NISA/NIMAREX from the chairman of the last expo.

Omatseye revealed that the discussion on the modalities and establishment of the $500 million float for financing of assets was inconclusive.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Chief Isaac Jolapamo in his speech charged members to see the duty of keeping NISA one as a task that must be done by every member of the association

Jolapamo said that it is only in Nigeria that you have two or three shipowners associations, adding that government is benefitting from the division by its divide and rule tactics.

He disclosed that he had written to the Minister of Transport as well as the Director General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA to account for how much has been collected so far for the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF.

The BOT chairman added that in the next couple of weeks, he would be heading to the court on the need to account for CVFF.

He enjoined members to take the bull by the horns to ensure that shipowners take their place of pride in the maritime subsector.