Transport Ministry is setting the space to start RMB within 90 days…..Sambo
Lucky Akra, Lagos.
The Minister of Transportation,Mu’azu Jaji Sambo is setting the space to start the Regional Maritime Development Bank within 90 days.
The speculated period according to him will enable the Ministry to secure accommodation to enable the take off of the Regional Maritime Development Bank .
According to the Director Press and Public Relations, Eric Ojiekwe, the Minister made this known when he received the courtesy visit of the Secretary General, Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa, Dr. Paul Adalikwu at the Ministry.
Speaking during the visit,Mu’azu said,“When I resumed here, I realised immediately that the Regional Maritime Bank is one of the lowest hanging fruits that we can achieve within a very very short time. Infact 90 days is too long”.
He observed that all efforts towards getting accommodation via the Central Bank of Nigeria has not yielded any outcomes, according to him,he will approach the Attorney General of the Federation to see if one of the forfeited properties can be allocated to the bank.
Speaking further, Mu’azu encouraged the Secretary General, to leverage on MOWCA as a regional to push for Nigeria’s intent of becoming member of Category C in International Maritime Organization, IMO.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary General of MOWCA, Dr. Paul Adalikwu, stated that the idea of a Regional Maritime Development bank , RMDB, was conceived 11 years ago to facilitate single-digit interest loans to provide leeway to key players in the sector and enable them compete favourably with their international counterparts.
Adalikwu also made known to the gathering that 8 countries have signed the Charter as required in the document establishing the bank.
He further said,” Two weeks ago, DRC Congo also signed, making it 9 countries”.
One above the threshold required for the establishment of the Act”.
Speaking further, he informed that the organogram of RMDB as adopted by council members had positions of President of the body, Company Secretary and a seat on the board ceded to Nigeria while Cameroun is to produce the Vice President 1, and Ivory Coast, Vice President 2, adding that other members countries are to provide board members for the Maritime bank.
The meeting had in attendance the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adewole Adegoroye, Director, Maritime Services, Babatunde Bombata, Deputy Director, Cabotage & Shipping, Rita Zoaka and others.
