Congratulations,  Mr. President, and happy Democracy Day.  

Mr. President,  with due respect,  my greatest disappointment, however, was that you failed to use this great opportunity to redeem your democratic credentials by recalling Sim Fubara , governor of Rivers State, whom you sent on compulsory leave.  This ,without doubt, cast a huge question mark on your democratic credentials.      

Now, Mr. President,  let’s now look at the main reason behind this open letter to you. 

Your Excellency, sir, you shocked the maritime community in 2023 when you announced the creation of a  Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.  Many of us didn’t see this coming.  You took us by surprise. The agitation by maritime stakeholders for a specialised ministry for this sector has been on for more than three decades . We can’t thank you enough, Mr. President, for  responding to our pleas. 

We can now say we are moving in the right direction ,like other member countries of the comity of maritime nations. But Mr. President,  of what use is the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy if the ministry and the MDAs under it do not enjoy the corresponding support from you in terms of an  enabling environment and extant laws?  Mr. President, when you employ a farmer,  you must equip him with the necessary tools he requires  to work with. Mr. President, you know as a matter of factly that the maritime sector remains one of the few in the country without an economic regulator.  

While the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigerian Communication Commission,  the downstream regulation agency,  among others are critical sectorial regulatory agencies,  the maritime sector has none. 

As a matter of fact,  immediately after the ports concession exercise, what was to follow was a regulatory agencies to curb the envisaged excesses of the incoming concessionnres. 

But for one reason or the  other, this proposal was not activated by previous administrations.  As a visionary leader,  and considering the importance you attach to this sector as a key component of your plans to diversify the Nigerian economy, you have task of signing this Bill into law. But of what use is this commitment if the enabling environment is not created for us to tap into the full potentials of the sector.  

And one  such  critical components that is lacking is the non-existence of an economic regulator.  This is where the Ports and Shipping Economic Regulation Bill, which has since been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly comes in. 

Your Excellency sir, even though I  would not  know if the Bill has been formally transmitted to you, what I do know is that  , the Ports and Shipping Regulation Bill which seeks to repeal the existing Nigeria Shippers Council Act is awaiting your assent. 

The bill aims to establish a more robust and effective regulatory framework to support the growth of shipping and ports sectors while safeguarding the interest of Nigerian shippers. 

It will also help to modernise Nigerian maritime sector by establishing a dedicated regulatory agency with broad powers. 

The Bill also includes provisions for mandatory registration of maritime service providers,  dispute resolution mechanisms and streamlining operational efficiency.  

Mr. President,  this Bill is a game changer in the maritime sector as it will help move the Nigerian Shippers Council to a super revenue generating government parastatal.  

Mr. President,  sir, the Hon. Minister of Marine and Blue Economy,  Adegboyega Oyetola, is counting on you to expeditiously sign this for the greater good of Nigeria in line with your renewed hope agenda.  Thank you,  Mr. President,  in anticipation of your positive response,  sir.  

Yours sincerely,  

Elder Asu Beks