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As part of efforts to reposition the nation’s domestic shipping operations, Nigeria Shipowners’ Association (NISA) has established NISA Ocean Transport Limited and inaugurated the board members of the new company.
While inaugurating the 6-member board members on Tuesday, the Chairman of NISA Board of Trustees, Chief Isaac Jolapomo, disclosed that the company’s board comprises 2 members of the association’s BoT, 2 NISA executives and 2 NISA members.
Noting that the association had attempted to establish this company on two other occasions in the past, the NISA BOT Chairman expressed confidence in the newly constituted team and expressed optimism for the company’s success.
His words: “This is the third time we are attempting this and we have chosen people who have integrity. We chose two members from the NISA BoT – Sir. Sonny Omatseye and Mr. Tunji Brown. They were also part of the executives at a point when the association was at its strongest. We chose 2 present executives – President, Sola Adewunmi and General Secretary, Jibril Rowaye because they are our leaders that we elected. We also chose two members Paul Jegede and Emeka Obiogbulu.
“Your responsibility is to drive this company in a manner that it will see it start generating profits for the association. The tenure is 3 years for the BoT members while 6 years applies for the executives and general members.”.
Jolapomo also stated that the association would amend its constitution to cater for this development as well as adjust the tenure of the executives so that they could perform effectively.
Speaking on behalf of the inaugurated board members, the Chairman of the Board of NISA Ocean Transport, Sir. Sunny Omatseye, thanked the association for availing the team an opportunity to serve in the unique platform.
“We assure you that we will do our best to keep the flag of NISA flying high. The goal is to operate this company as an international shipping company. We will do our best to ensure that the company emerges as one of the best shipping companies in Nigeria,” Omatseye said.
Other members of the board also accepted the responsibility to serve even as they promised to carry out their responsibilities diligently.
Omatseye, however, stressed the association’s decision that nobody will be the majority share in the company because it is for all members of the shipping association.
“Our intention is to see how we can provide our ships and take more of the foreigners off our coast. We need Nigerians to participate fully in the shipping industry. I have been looking forward to this for a very, very long time.
“We are looking at the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) and other financing bodies for funding and we have decided to commence with two vessels. We are thinking about getting a tanker for about 30,000 tonnes and an LPG vessel.”
He added that the newly established shipping company has raised its 15% equity and prepared to meet other criteria for accessing the CVFF.
