…As Maritime Journalists Celebrate Former Ministers’ Passion
BY EGUONO ODJEGBA
Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, together with his Taraba and Ondo states counterpart, Gov. Darius Dickson Ishaku and Gov. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu CON, are billed to attend the appreciation dinner organized for the immediate past Minister of Transportation and his brother Minister of State, Mua’zu Jaji Sambo and Prince Ademola Adegoroye, by the League of Maritime Editors (LOME).
Settle Systems Advert
Also expected to grace the occasion holding at Eko Hotels & Suites Lagos on Friday, June 9, 2023 is the Emir of Muri in Taraba State, Alhaji Abbas Njidda Tafida and the Deji of Akure in Ondo State, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun II, captains of the maritime industry, associates and well wishers.
The honour for the two ministers is in appreciation of their hard work and landmark achievements, demonstrated by their uncommon passion to set the pace within their stint. The Appreciation Dinner earlier scheduled for May 18 but was postponed because of the busy handing over preparations, will be chaired by the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.
In a statement signed by the President of the League, Chief Timothy Okorocha and the Public Relations Officer, Mr Francis Ugwoke, the two Ministers are being honoured in recognition of their glaring efforts to move the industry forward during their short stint at the transportation ministry.
According to the statement, “Sambo focused on projects that will move the nation’s maritime industry forward. On assuming office, he moved to ensure ports efficiency and interconnectivity of agencies through the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) by establishing a port community system under a single platform. He will be remembered for achieving so much for the industry after spending less than 10 months in office”
Among the projects, the statement added, were ports infrastructure rehabilitation, and indigenous shipping development under which he got the President to approve the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), the process which has since started.
Sambo, on assumption of office immediately identified what he described as the ‘low hanging fruits’, to be given priority attention in terms of capacity development. Together with his brother minister of state, they hit the ground running, and identified critical infrastructural deficits that should be fixed in a ‘quick, march time’ approach; Cabotage Trade and the disbursement of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), which gained unprecedented traction under their watch; including efforts to rejuvenate other regional ports outside Lagos.