Nigeria Ship-owners Association (NISA) has distanced itself from an unnamed person posing as Chief Executive of the Nigeria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) in a bid to siphon monies from unsuspecting maritime industry stakeholders.
The controversy was said to have commenced at dawn yesterday when the attention of NISA executives was drawn to a document signed by a known NISA personality as Executive Director of NIMAREX without approval from NISA Executives or Board of Trustees (BoT) members.
Speaking with News Diet during an exclusive chat today, the President of NISA, Mr. Sola Adewumi expressed dissatisfaction at the development even as he disclosed that the said blackmailer has been very close to the NISA leadership and Board of Trustees over the years.
His words: “We saw a publication by somebody that has been so close to the NISA leadership. I’m referring to the top hierarchy that is the Board of Trustees and former leaders. In this online post, this lady said she is launching something and claimed to be the Executive Director of NIMAREX. It was an embarrassment to the entire executives of NISA.”
“We believe that NIMAREX is NISA’s baby and for anyone to do something under the guise of NIMAREX there should be an approval by the NISA executives. There wasn’t approval or permission for that and we have to rise to save our name in the industry. We also have to protect the reputation of our organization.”
“NIMAREX is about exhibition and it has a good reputation locally and internationally. In the interest of the association, we have to let the industry know that she didn’t have that mandate to pose as NIMAREX.”
According to the NISA President, the association has resolved to manage the situation internally since the offender is someone close to top NISA leadership and the issue is an internal problem.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of NISA, Mr. Adu Gbolahan had disseminated a Public Notice on the development yesterday which was signed by the NISA President, Sola Adewumi and NISA General Secretary, Otunba Olawale Jubril.
It read; “This is to inform the maritime regulators and stakeholders locally and internationally that whoever that is parading herself as the Chief Executive Officer of NIMAREX does not have the mandate of Nigeria Shipowners Association (NISA), the parent body of NIMAREX.”
“Whoever that is dealing with them on behalf of NIMAREX is at their own risk. Thank you.”
NIMAREX has been a popular event regarded as one of the Africa’s biggest maritime events in Nigeria with the goal of enhancing growth and increased local participation in the Nigerian Maritime industry.
The annual international exhibition and conference, is hosted by the Nigeria Shipowners and the Federal Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with other public and private stakeholders in the maritime industry.