The Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) and Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN) has formed a body known as “Shipowners Forum” under the chairmanship of Mrs Margaret Onyema-Orakwusi.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Lagos, jointly signed by Onyema-Orakwusi; President of NISA, Alhaji Aminu Umar; and President of SOAN, Mr Greg Ogbeifun.
It said that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, recently at a parley in Lagos requested ship owners in Nigeria to present a common front in their engagement with government.
“The ministerial challenge was followed up with a meeting of shipowners where the resolution to float the Shipowners Forum was reached,” the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes the statement as saying.
It explained that the two bodies (NISA and SOAN) recently convened a meeting on Feb. 26 in Lagos to shelve partisan cleavages and resolve to come under one united umbrella.
“This is without prejudice to the fact that the respective associations will continue to exist according to the statues establishing them,’’ the statement said.
The Forum appreciated the minister for his desire to unify ship owners in the country.
“We are very ready and committed to engaging him (minister) and the Federal Government constructively.
“This is with a view to supporting the government’s policy thrust to better the lot of ship owners in Nigeria and the entire maritime industry,” it said. (NAN)