House Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, Others Bag Maritime Award

Sep 30, 2009 (Daily Champion/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- MTLX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Chief whip of the Federal House of Representatives, , Mr. Emeka Ihedioha was among eminent Nigerians who weekend in Lagos were bestowed with priceless maritime award by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) at an event tagged 'MARAN Night of Honour'.' The award is in recognition of his immense contributions to the making of all the current laws driving the country's maritime sector.

In the last National Assembly, he was for four years the chairman of the House committee on Marine Transport.

In his citation, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, representing Aboh Mbaise-Ngokpala Federal Constituency of Imo state, was said to have led the House Committee on Marine Transport to enact the Cabotge Act, NIMASA Act, CRFFN Act, among others. His tall achievement in on-going revolution in Nigerian maritime sector is said to be as a result of his special abilities to carry his colleagues along

The 'MARAN Night of Honours', which equally honoured the global shipping giant, AP-Mollar-Maersk, for playing a leading role in the modernsation of Nigerian ports infrastructure, also bestowed a special award for Fleet Expansion on the immediate past governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzo Kalu. Referred to in his citation as the risen sun in the East, the Igbere, Abia state born politician and businessman was said to have through his Slok Group, acquired 11 vessels and has more being built by a ship yard in Malaysia. Though operating silently Slok Shipping has surpassed the feat of Slok Air by a million times, as it is currently Nigeria's biggest indigenous shipowner. The company is Nigeria's operator of a crude carrier. Slok Shipping's in-road into the lucrative Oil & Gas sector, which has remained the exclusivity of foreign operators because of the inability of Nigerian shipowners to acquire new vessels that meet international best standards, was specially commended by the maritime media group; organizers of the award ceremony.

The organizers gave SIFAX Group, a wholly owned indigenous terminal operator; The Best Indigenous Terminal Operator, because of the success it has reportedly made of its terminal at Tincan Island Port with its Ships & Cargo Terminals;

The media group noted that AP-Mollar Apapa Terminals Limited has transformed the port by the upgrading the infrastructure at the Container Terminal port (concessioned to APM Terminal Apapa Limited). It was noted that the terminal is now nearing world standards as the company has invested over $135 million and recently flagged off the second phase of infrastructure upgrading of the terminal. The company said this phase will cost it $75 million

The award ceremony which had former managing director of Nigerian ports Authority, Chief Babatunde Sarumi as the chairman, equally bestowed one of the awards on the Executive Secretary/ CEO of Nigerian Shippers' Council, Captain Adamu Biu, an accomplished master marina and currently the most experienced chief executive officer among all the maritime industry related agencies of government. He honoured for being alive to his responsibility of defending the interest of the shippers.

Daimond Bank equally bagged the prestigious award of maritime supporting bank of the year, while Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited got an award on service provision category,. The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, Alhaji, Inde Abudullahi Dikko and his officer in of Customs Training School Kano, Alhaji Ali Wakili were equally honoured in view of their personal contributions to the development of the Nigeria Customs Service.

The event which held at the prestigious Lagos Sheraton Hotels and Towers attracted the who is who in the maritime industry

The organizers of the event earlier said that the award ceremony was their little way of showing appreciation to those Nigerians who by their personal or corporate industry have contributed in moving the nation's maritime sector forward. Chairman of the organizing committee, Mr. Sesun Onilemo disclosed that the event was put together to make known to the awardees that their contributions to the development of the industry is noted in history, saying it is against that backdrop that the should consider themselves as the biblical candle which having been lighted can no longer have a hiding place. He said the honour coming from such powerful institution of the society, the third estate of the ream is a call for more accomplishment in the industry to the awardees. He said the sector needed more investments in terms of infrastructure and human capital development.

President of the association, Mr. Leye Ajaiyi also said the award ceremony which was to be periodically (not yearly) was instituted to ginger the industry as well as attract the need massive investment into the sector.

The Night of Honour which celebrated 10 awardees, four corporate recipients and six individual awardees.

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