Maritime
CVFF: stakeholders skeptical of Minister’s promise; fume at childish treatment of ship owners.
CVFF: stakeholders skeptical of Minister's promise; fume at childish treatment of ship owners.
Stakeholders in the shipping subsector of the maritime industry have expressed skepticism over the recent declaration that the federal government will soon disburse the enigmatic Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds (CVFF)
Recall that the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo last week promised that the federal government would disburse the over $3,000,000 dollars fund.
Also recall that the government at several times promised to disburse the fund which some stakeholders believe have been squandered by previous and present administrations for electioneering purpose.
But the Minister, who some believe would make good his promise because of his background in the industry, have been asked to be given benefit of the doubt.
Speaking on the Minister’s declaration, the National President, Nigerian Merchant Navy Officers & Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA), Engr. Bob Joseph Yousou who expressed optimism in the ability of the minister to disburse the fund, admonished stakeholders to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The seafarers senior staff president however added that the time remaining for this administration may be too short to complete all the bureaucracy involved in disbursement of such humongous fund.
He therefore called for the unity of purpose among maritime stakeholders to give necessary support to the government for the fruition of the Minister’s promise.
“I strongly believe the current Hon Minister of transportation will make a difference having been in the marine sector for some time.
“However, there is a need for us the stakeholders to be united in purpose and intent behind the CVFF.
“A house that is divided can’t hold.
More so, the government beauracracy can be frustrating when it comes to disbursement of fund.
“In all of this I still believe something positive can be achieve within his tenure
Also speaking, the Managing Director, Victory Energy Resources Limited, Otunba Sola Olatunji, he expressed doubt about the recent pronouncement by the minister.
He maintained that ministers after ministers gave dangled the carrot before the ship owners saying the promise by the government was just to secure the support of the ship owners.
Otunba who is a member of Nigeria Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA), warned that the federal government should stop talking to the ship owners as if they are children.
He therefore said the government should stop making promises it cannot fulfil to the stakeholders.
“On the question of CVFF and possibility of it’s release to Shipowners soon, my brother, they have dangled this carrots before us by ministers upon ministers in the past, at the end, nothing to show for it.
“If you ask for my personal opinion, I will say, each minister that comes usually throws this to us in order to secure our support, so they should stop talking to us as children.
“Some of us are better than them in all respects so enough of this basket mouth statements by leadership of the Federal ministry of transport,” he fumed.
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