A Maritime Expert, Mr Bolaji Akinola on Tuesday urged the Director- General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi to focus more on developing indigenous shipping.
Akinola, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Ships and Ports Communication Company, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
NAN reports that Akpobolokemi has just been re-appointed by the Federal Government for another four-year term.
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“The DG will do well with his management team to focus more attention this time around within the next four years in developing indigenous shipping operations.
“He should use the confidence that the president has in him to reposition the shipping sector.
“Let him use that proximity to the seat of power to carry the problem of shipping to the Villa and to proffer solution that the presidency will have in buying into.
“I have a strong confidence in his ability to deliver. He has a unique opportunity to print his name in gold in the maritime sector and he should not allow that opportunity to slip by, “ Akinola told NAN.
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He said the reappointment of Akpobolokemi as the director-general of NIMASA was significant and historic in the organisation.
Akinola said there had been instability in appointment of past chief executives of the parastatal since its establishment on Aug. 1, 2006.
He said the reappointment of Akpobolokemi would bridge the instability in policy implementation.
Akinola advised the director-general to focus on securing the Nigerian waterways in order to stop attack on vessels by the sea robbers.
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