…Appoints Dr. Dakuku Peterside
By Uche Usim
AFTER a long wait, the Federal Government yesterday sacked the Acting Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Baba Haruna Jauro, and replaced him with Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the Transportation Ministry, Mrs. Yetunde Sonaike, Peterside’s appointment takes effect from March 10, 2016. Peterside was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Rivers State. He holds a Doctorate Degree in Management Science (Organisational Behaviour) from the University of Port Harcourt, MBA in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences (B.MLs) in Haematology from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology Rivers State.
Peterside was elected member, House of Representatives in 2011-2015 and served as Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream). Stakeholders in the maritime sector had long predicted the sack of Jauro who was Director of Finance in the agency under Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi now being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to Lucky Amiwero, a member of the Presidential Committee on Port Reforms, Jauro rendered the agency docile.
“He never did any meaningful thing that could be said to be what NIMASA should do or be doing. He was largely a greenhorn with no prior industry experience to man a sensitive maritime regulatory agency like NIMASA. That is what happens when someone not ripe for a job is appointed to a position. He was always confused and often derailed.
The man coming in, we hope will be focused and do the right thing. NIMASA can generate one million jobs if properly structured and run,” he said