Farinto: Ministry of Marine/Blue Economy Tinubu’s direct response to stakeholders’ clarion call
….Congratulates Oyetola, Tunji-Ojo
The CEO of Wealthy Honey Investment Limited and former Acting National President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Dr. Farinto Collins Kayode has congratulated the news Ministers of Transportation, Adegboyega Oyetola and the Minster of Marine and Blue Economy, Olunbumi Tunji-Ojo on their appointments, promising that ANLCA and other maritime stakeholders will rally round them to succeed in their new task.
Farinto who spoke with newsmen on Friday in Lagos said that he is very happy that the President Bola Tinubu yielded to the patriotic call by stakeholders including himself to for the uncoupling of the big Transportation Ministry in order to fully harness the potentials inherent in the Nigerian maritime industry, especially the blue economy.
He said, “Yes I must say that am very happy with Mr. President for having a listening ear and acting as such. You would remember that I was in the forefront in the effort to get the President to split the Ministry of Transportation which in my view had too much responsibility to handle that it could barely perform optimally.
“Actually, I started clamouring for a separate ministry to oversee maritime since the President Mohammedu Buhari era, even though the last regime did not create it, but we never stopped.
“It may surprise you that during the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu campaign for the presidency, I made a proposal for the maritime industry and I suggested the creation of Ministry of Maritime Affairs. Am happy that our efforts yielded fruit and now we have Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
“It will also interest you to know that, when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu won the presidential election, while congratulating him in June, I reminded him of the need to create a Ministry of Maritime Affairs.”
A copy of that dated June 20, 2023, which was sighted by DailyNewsWireng, addressed to President Bola Tinubu, with the title “The Need to Create Ministry of Maritime Affairs; reads in part: “Your Excellency Sir, the previous administrations up to President Mohammedu Buhari have administered the maritime industry through the Federal Ministry of Transportation, which is too large and bogus, hence the reason that all these administrations were unable to harness the maritime industry and tap the full potentials properly. The last administration was only able to concentrate on the rejuvenation of the rail system, which was not even completed.”
The letter also suggested that if the Ministry of Maritime Affairs is created, it will achieve the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals which provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet with 17 SDGs.
The proposal further suggested that the new Ministry can calve out such agencies like Nigerian Aquatic Splendour Authority (NASA), National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Department of Oceanography (DOO) and Department of
Insurance (DOMI) and others as may be required.
Dr Farinto however promised to make available his contributions and advises to make sure the new Ministry kicks -off properly to harness the Nigerian maritime and blue economy potentials for the property of all Nigerians.
He said he will support both Ministers and the Federal Government to make sure, the maritime industry which has a lot of human and material resources is repositioned to create employment for the teeming unemployed youths as well as generate more revenue for government.