ICS Reiterates Commitment To Collaborating With FMOT In Reinstating Nigeria Into IMO Category C

ICS reiterates Commitment to collaborating with FMOT in reinstating Nigeria into IMO Category C.

Category C comprises countries which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation.

The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), Nigeria Chartered has reinstated its commitment to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Transportation in a bid to reinstate Nigeria in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Category C.

Category C comprises countries, which have special interests in maritime transport or navigation and whose election to the IMO Council will ensure the representation of all major geographic areas of the world.

It should be recalled that for the fifth consecutive time, Nigeria on the 10th of December 2021 lost its bid for election into the 40-member Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which took place in London.

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Speaking with SHIPS & PORTS, the Chairman of the Institute, who is also a maritime lawyer, Dr. Chris Osoba Ebare vowed to play his role in influencing the delegates who vote during the election exercise which he noted would be feasible by converting efforts with the Ministry of Transportation in a bid to bring Nigeria to her rightful position amidst the comity of maritime nations of the world.

“We need to be very close to the government of the day particularly, the Ministry of Transportation. The current Minister of Transportation may not know much about the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers. He may not know that shipbrokers are actually the ones who call the shots in global shipping. The top shots in IMO are members of ICS and we sit at the same table to discuss issues.

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“We can use this to our advantage to network with these people.

“So, it’s important to engage the Transport Minister to let him know that we’re in the meetings, classes, and engagements with the top-notch players in shipping. I’m a member of The Baltic Exchange. This group comprises the biggest ship owners. The late Ojo Madueke when he was Minister of Transportation said he attended an IMO meeting and didn’t understand the ‘English’ they were speaking.

“We need to tell the Transport Minister that this Category C status on the IMO Council is seeking can be gotten through ICS. I understand that there are some industry issues that have been highlighted as shortcomings but the network opportunity to clarify this is available at ICS,” Ebare

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