Confusion has presently become noticeable amongst maritime industry stakeholders as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA strongman, Dr. Bashir Jamoh’s tenure ends Sunday, 12-midnight, with the Minister yet to announce either another term approval or a new Director General for the Agency
An agency staff who spoke on condition of anonymity confided in Frontline that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola decided to play ‘Siddon Look’, following the horse-trading pressure that backdropped the tenure expiration.
“Some people don’t want Jamoh to go. They are pressuring the Minister for term renewal. But, they largely failed to see the avalanche of fireworks from those who have decided that Jamoh must go”, he said, stressing that at the peak of their intimidation, they decided to recycle and retarget the DG, with a video alleging Jamoh of mindboggling corruption!”, he explained further.
Dr. Bashir Jamoh (OFR)
But he honestly praised Dr. Bashir Jamoh, stressing that he brought vigour, colours, dynamism, and renewed determination to the agency.
An industry watcher, Bolutife Egbewole in response said he perfectly understood the game the Minister, Oyetola is playing: “Hold on to the last minute and see which side caves in…
“Oyetola is a politician; and with politicians, horse trading is sometimes a Russian roulette!
“It enables the Minister to hold on till the last minutes, at which point, if there’s any serious instruction from above, you merely follow it. And if there’s none, you simply asked him to hand over to the usual ‘most Senior Director, while you appoint somebody else who would be loyal to you!”, the industry watcher said.
In the meantime, there is palpable fear amongst the core group often identified as the ‘Jamoh boys’, even with some of them, allegedly embarking on frenzied prayer bouts.
A source told Frontline Reporters that the boys could naturally be targeted if Jamoh fails to secure a return ticket.
The source also posited that “some of them have grown swollen-headed”; adding that it was not unlikely that a few of them would get the ‘black boot’ treatment.
“It doesn’t matter whether they are good or not. Capt. (Enisuon) Warredi was good when he was targeted and booted out!”, he further explained, noting that their fear was justifiable.
Industry watchers have been offering various perspectives to the reappointment or orderwise of Jamoh while many tasked the federal government to tap from his huge experience in the sector and reappoint him.
Efforts to obtain the official reaction of the agency proved abortive as the agency image maker and spokesman, Edward Osagie an Assistant Director, could not be reached, at the time of going to press.
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