Shippers council ES, Akuta lauds Tinubu's policy of appointing technocrats in public positions

The Executive Secretary, ES of the Nigerian Shippers Council, NSC Pius Akuta has lauded president Bola Tinubu’s policy of appointing technocrats into key and sensitive positions of government

He said the policy is an interesting moment for Nigeria because technocrats are being saddled with the responsibility to provide leadership in agencies of government that are like the grade A establishments which also generate revenue for government

Speaking in an interview in Abuja recently, Akuta noted that by placing experts in charge, government aims to enhance efficiency, professionalism, and revenue generation in these vital sectors

This endorsement highlights the growing recognition of expertise and merit-bsed appointments in Nigeria’s public administration under President Tinubu’s leadership

According to him, his prior work in the ministry of justice, especially in international cooperation, prepared him well for his current role having had extensive interaction with the maritime sector and was familiar with impressive cases requiring deep knowledge of maritime law and international agreements

He said his experience also stems from negotiating international agreements, prosecuting extradition cases and handling transnational crimes which gave him a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of the maritime sector

While leaving the ministry of Justice, Akuta said he was prosecuting the vessel, MT Heroic Idun, which entered Nigerian territorial waters and attempted unauthorized access to an oil platform

“The Navy intercepted the ship, which then fled and raised an alarm claiming it was been pursued by pirates. The vessel escaped into Equatorial Guinea’s territorial waters, where Nigeria ordered its arrest and filed charges against the ship and crew before I left office” he said

The lawyer said he has been involved in maritime matters for some time, including drafting the African Charter on Maritime Security and Safety, adopted in Lomé, Togo, in 2016 by African heads of states pointing out that the Charter aims to promote maritime security, prevent crimes such as piracy, and support sustainable maritime development across Africa

He noted that Nigeria’s existing legal regime for maritime issues was outdated, based on a 1978 decree focusing mainly on shippers’ interests and freight rates, which needed modernization to address broader maritime security and legal challenges

The ES emphasized playing a key role in prosecuting maritime offenses like the MT Heroic Idun case and contributed to continental efforts to enhance maritime security through the African Charter adopted in 2016.

Akuta further disclosed that he has initiated reforms in the council to improve efficiency, transparency and service to Nigerian shippers, reflecting his strong grasp of the maritime industry’s legal and operational challenges, positioning him to drive positive change in the sector

With president Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, the ES hopes to improve infrastructure at the council’s Lagos office expressing his appreciation to the president for approving the whoping sum of N35 billion naira for the project which when completed would provide a good working environment for staff

Akuta stated that the planned automation and digitalization of facilities at the ports would drive efficiency and ensure the effective delivery of staff responsibilities to the public, enhancing the council’s overall functions.