Following guarantees of top priority and all-inclusive governance in maritime, a group known as Tinubu/ Shettima Maritime Advocacy Group (TSMAG) has called for nationwide support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the 2023 presidential race heats up.
TSMAG made this call when it hosted a former Minister of Communication and Director-General, Asiwaju Tinubu Presidential Campaign, Dr Abdur- Raheem Adebayo Shittu, in Lagos, yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Shittu assured that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu/ Kashim Shettima administration will be driven by industry stakeholders input and recommendations, even as he admonished the group to develop a document chronicling the core industry problems and possible solutions.
According to the Presidential Campaign Director General, the Tinubu/ Shettima team will also seek to address all national issues using stakeholders engagements and recommendations.
“Today, we have discussed some of the challenges in maritime but these aren’t the only problems in the nation. There are security challenges, educational system, other transport infrastructure, among others. Tinubu/ Shettima administration will listen to the stakeholders positions. A good leader listens sympathetically to the views, recommendations and plights of the citizens. I have admonished the group to develop a working document to guide the president when he comes onboard,” Shittu told our correspondent.
Also speaking at the event, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration (CIOTA) Nigeria and Managing Director of Mulifelong Motors, Mulikat Fehintola Sanni expressed dissatisfaction at the regression observed in the vehicle assembling plants across the nation.
She, however, harped on the need to prioritize transportation and foster an enabling environment for ancillary services to develop, stressing that no successful economy can be achieved without an efficient transport system.
Her words: “In the transport sector, there is a saying that no transportation means no economy. We want a Tinubu/Shettima administration that will prioritize transportation as a viable sector to drive the nation’s economy. The much celebrated oil sector also thrives on transportation. So, the upcoming elections isn’t about money, but we are looking out to see improvement in the rail system, inland waterways, roads, pipeline and aviation.”
In his remarks, the National Chairman of TSMAG, Alhaji Lameen Aliyu expressed delight at the sincerity and assurances from the Tinubu/Shettima team as conveyed by Shittu.
“One thing I have observed about Bola Tinubu over the years is his midas touch in managing people and resources such that everything he handles turns into success. I’m hopeful that this history continues especially for the freight forwarding subset of maritime as well as the entire transport industry.”
“In recent times, we have had very unfriendly policies in relation to Customs brokerage and freight forwarding. These policies never captured the inputs of industry operators and they further impoverish Nigerians. So, we expect the Tinubu/ Shettima team to be a deviation from such practice. We want an all-inclusive approach to policy formulations and a correction of these harsh policies,” Aliyu said.
Some maritime bigwigs at the event were; President of Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Hon. Olubunmi Olumekun; National Secretary, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) and Secretary General of TSMAG, Alhaji Babatunde Mukaila; Vice Chairman of TSMAG and CEO, Bomorah Group, Hajia Bola Muse; among others.