Stakeholders condemn appointment of Mamora as NIWA boss

Tayo Oladipupo

The Nigerian Maritime Society in Diaspora (NIMSID) has criticised the recent appointment of Senator Olorunimbe Mamora as the new Managing Director of National Inland Waterways (NIWA), describing it as mere political patronage.

The group through its Zonal Coordinator, Western flag, Captain David Michael Hill, bemoaned the appointment which he said was a mockery of the technicalities of the sector which he said was not merit -driven.

The group, on its social media platform, described Mamora as lacking requisite industry knowledge whose appointment will be a big drag on the water transportation industry.

While addressing staff and group members during the Independence Day anniversary, the coordinator blamed the backwardness and retrogression of the maritime industry on the government inability to place the right people with adequate knowledge capacity.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed the former senator representing Lagos East senatorial district as the MD of NIWA.

Announcing the appointment in a letter from the Federal Ministry of Transportation dated September 24, 2018 and with reference number: T.4316/S.63/T/111, the Permanent Secretary, Sabiu Zakari, said Mamora’s appointment was with immediate effect.

The group claimed that “Many maritime watchers view this appointment as inappropriate.

“The appointment is a mockery to the international community for the fact that the new MD of NIWA is a pharmacist all his life, he had a background in the medical profession.

“The NIMSID is asking if there is nobody in the maritime industry that has done well in practice with quality years of experience in the maritime sector that could be entrusted with such position.

“It is sad that since the previous administration till date, the maritime sector seems to have been politicized.

“It’s safe to say that no matter how one is qualified for a top government assignment, if he or she does not belong to the party in government he or she might not be given the opportunity to serve.”

The group maintained that the appointment of the new MD of NIWA further confirmed claims on how politics have influenced technical positions under this present regime.

“Until we begin to place merit, competence, capacity above mere political compensation, we may never get to our desired destination “, the group stated.

Continuing, on the profile of the new helmsman engagement, the coordinator said: “We also learnt that the newly appointed MD, is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who was a speaker of the fourth Lagos State House of Assembly between June 2, 1999 and May 30, 2003. He was also Senator for Lagos East senatorial district between May 29, 2007 and June 6, 2011.

This he said, might have been the criteria that earned him the job.

NIMSID further suggested that for the country to witness rapid and progressive development, the federal government should make it a duty or policy to engage the services of individuals who have the merits, knowledge and experience that match the job description