Determined to build a strong force that would aid the participation of more Nigerian ship owners in the nation’s shipping business, the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA) has merge its two factional groups into one.
The association has also appointed a 3-man steering committee to pilot its affairs for the next six months, thereby bringing to an end, the tenure of the presidents of the two factional groups led by Niyi Labinjo and Aminu Umar, after leading their various groups for four years each.
The committee, which comprises of Paul Jegede, Tunji Brown and Taiwo Akinpelumi, were tasked with the responsibility of stabilising the association and conducting a general election in the first quarter of 2020.
Speaking to newsmen in Lagos last week, the NISA steering committee said at an emergency meeting held on September 5, 2019, that members of the association from the two fractional groups have resolved to reconcile and work together.
According to the committee, the executive members of the association elected in November 2014 before the division, have ceased to represent the association.
“It was unanimously agreed by members present at the meeting that the executive committee should surrender the management of the association to the newly appointed steering committee. The steering committee has the sole responsibility to represent the association in all official matters until new executive members are elected,” the committee said.
According to them, NISA will continue to make progress on its aims and objectives, focused on earning industry confidence, creating jobs and ensuring that ship owners take their rightful position as major drivers and critical stakeholders in the maritime sector.
Paul Jegede, a member of the committee told newsmen that NISA members have suffered neglect as a result of the division within the association. He said that the decision to reunite will help members speak with one voice.
Jegede, who doubles as chairman of Japaul Group, said members have actually lost a lot because of the 4-year dispute, which made them not to speak with one voice.
“We would have gotten what we wanted. For instance, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) has not been managed very well by the government. Although it was contributed by the shipowners but because we are not together, we are missing the opportunity to benefiting from the fund,” he said.
Jegede said that NISA is now coming together to be able to advice government better and that things will change within the next six months.
NISA formerly known as the Indigenous Shipowners Association (ISAN) later changed its name and was engulfed in internal crisis after its maiden election held on October 24, 2014.
The crisis led to the splitting of the association into two groups headed by Labinjo and Umar respectively while some members also pulled out to form a new association named Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN).
