By Kenneth Jukpor
Here is the last trench of the MMS Plus 2018 third-quarter rating of transport agencies in the country based on their performance with regards to their core functions. This appraisal covers; Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) and Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).
For the grading system: A =90-100%, B+ = 80-89%, B =70-79%, C+ =60-69%, C =50-59%, D =40-49% and E = 30-39%, F = 0-30%. Enjoy it:
Council for the Regulations of Freight Forwarders of Nigeria (CRFFN)
CRFFN was established to address the complexities and global demands in the import and export business as it relates to freight forwarders and clearing agents. The agency is saddled with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the practice of freight forwarding, ensuring optimum standards and professional conduct of practitioners.
In the first half of 2018, one of the major challenges facing the agency – the absence of a Governing Council – has been addressed with the successful elections of practitioners into the board.
However, CRFFN’s performance in the first half would be assessed based on five identified statutory functions below with each function carrying 20 marks.
Accrediting, regulating and controlling associations of freight forwarders to ensure professionalism in the industry:
Although the freight forwarding regulatory body was able to conduct elections for members of the Governing Council, their inauguration has dragged on for more than two months and the agency is yet to kick-off the lofty aspirations of injecting professionalism and some degree of discipline in the practice. The inauguration of the Governing Council has finally been slated for Wednesday this week.
Score = 6/20
To determine who constitute freight forwarders and to regulate and control the activities of registered practitioners:
While the number of registered freight forwarders continues to increase, a large chunk of freight forwarding practitioners still don’t have CRFFN certification, hence the difficulties in regulating their activities.
Score = 7/20
Ensuring uniform standards of professional conduct and education relevant to freight forwarding practice:
In 2018, CRFFN hasn’t made any effort to enlighten practitioners on the global best practices in the profession. Recall that the agency spent N1billion on Phantom IFFN building project and N850million used for security equipment uniform and acceptable standard of operation in 2017.
Score = 2/20
Encourage participation in international exchange programme and promoting the highest competence, practice and conduct among members:
There hasn’t been any notable event or programme this year to promote the objectives above.
Score = 2/20
Establishment and maintenance of registers of persons entitled to practice as registered freight forwarders and the publication from time to time of the list of such persons:
Although the names of registered freight forwarders were collated for the purpose of the recent Governing Council elections, CRFFN should be prompt in publishing updated registers to keep the importers, exporters and the general public abreast of qualified persons to consult for freight forwarding practice.
Score = 8/20.
Conclusion
Following the peaceful constitution of a new CRFFN board, one can expect things to transform positively at the Council even as the Council gets naugurated and introduces initiatives that would transform the freight forwarding practice in the country. A more productive last quarter of 2018 should be anticipated.
Total Score = 22/100
Grade F (25%)
Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT)
NITT was established to provide trainings in order to maintain professionalism in the sector. MMS Plus x-rays NITT performance in the third quarter of 2018 based on three major statutory functions.
Provide Management Training for Personnel employed in all modes of transport:
Nothing has been heard about this role in the time under review, although the institute made some efforts to partner with Nigerian Shippers Council and Nigerian Ports Authority in 2017. Those in-charge of the various modes of transport in the country remain highly unskilled and unprofessional.
Score = 10/33
Serve as a Transport Intelligence Centre for monitoring transport and logistics systems;
Majority of the personnel saddled with managing various modes of Nigeria’s transport system remain unprofessional and highly unregulated. Various policies were introduced by Federal Government like the speed limiting device without any impact because of poor compliance.
Score = 8/33
Provide equipment and facilities for the encouragement, promotion and conduct of applied research in all modes of transport;
There was no tangible information in this regards in the third quarter of 2018.
Score = 5/34
Conclusion
NITT is an agency saddled with the arduous task of professionalizing all cadres of players in the nations transport sector but there is no indication that the agency is fulfilling this mandate. The institute seems to be retrogressing day-by-day even as operators prefer to get their certification from other private driven institutes. 20% is poor by all standards, so the institute needs rebranding.
Total Score = 23/100
Grade F (23%)
Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron
Since the members of the interim management committee concluded the task and handed over the recommendations to the Rector, Mr. Duji Efedua who was also a member of that committee, not much was heard about the activities at the Academy until the Rector attended the 70th anniversary celebration for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which held in Lagos, recently.
The turbulent times at Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN) Oron, seems to be over as the academy shows promising signs that could return it to the glorious days when it produced some of the best seafarers for the nation.
The interim committee announced that the academy is presently operating in accordance with the instruments that established it, noting that the blueprint which was left behind will be useful instruments for the board as well as the rector for the academy’s accelerated development, the assurances of the Rector last week was soothing.
Speaking at the event, Efedua revealed that with effect from the next admission, the number of intakes would be slashed to ensure quality instead rather than quantity as the academy begins a new era of training of cadets in line with global best practices and to meet international standards.
The Rector also disclosed that plans were already in place to build the academy’s simulation centre, a burden which has affected the institution for more than a decade.
He explained that about 60percent of reforms have been implemented. “We have restructured. We have implemented, and have attained 60pwrcent reform goals. Presently, we are sourcing for lecturers, qualified ones both from home and abroad.
“We are remodelling the classrooms, the hostels and the library. We are also building a new simulation centre which NIMASA has pledged to help us equip. NIMASA has asked us to set up a three-man committee to work on the simulation centre. I believe that by the next 6 months, MAN Oron will be one of the best academies in the continent”.
He stated that the stakeholders would no longer be cajoled to take MAN Oron cadets onboard vessels after they graduate because the academy would be so revered that the cadets would be attractive and stakeholders will come scrambling for them during their graduation.
Conclusion
In few months, the Rector has steered the academy to a new direction addressing some of the problems highlighted by the interim committee such as; substandard structures, inadequate curriculum, incentives for employing professionals to enhance professional trainings, among others.
Nigeria can anticipate seeing a new ‘MAN Oron’ whose cadets would be pride of the nation, according to the promises of the Rector. The last quarter promises to be memorable with the first graduation under the new administration at the Academy, next week.
Total Score 45/100
Grade D (45%)
Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB)
The Nigerian Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) is charged with the responsibility of investigating any civil aircraft accident and serious incident arising out of, or in the course of air navigation and occurring either in or over Nigeria, or occurring to Nigerian aircraft elsewhere.
AIB started 2018 brightly, hosting a meeting of the Banjul Accord Group Accident Investigation Agency (BAGAIA) on a four-day aircraft accident/incident report writing course slated for January 16-19, 2018. The training was an offshoot of the second meeting of the BAGAIA Commission, which was held between December 13 to 15, 2017 in Praia, Cape Verde, where the Commissioner of AIB, Akin Olateru proposed to the BAGAIA Commission to host the Air Accident/Serious Incident Report Writing Training. The proposal was a way to ensure that AIB’s safety investigators benefit greatly; even as Nigeria, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are members of the BAGAIA accord group. Twenty of AIB’s safety investigators were part of the training which enhanced the capacity of the workforce.
The agency also recently introduced a new App that would assist in investigating aircraft accidents and incidents.
The App is targeted to reach no fewer than 15 million passengers within the country’s airspace and beyond, featuring a live reporting menu, whereby (pictures/videos) could be uploaded by any user who witnessed events that could result to aircraft accidents.
According to the agency, an individual’s swift reaction to any flight incidents may be his/ her patriotic contribution to preventing air crashes. It directed members of the public to download it from its website.
With these modest achievements, MMS scores AIB 50/100
Grade C (50%)
Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT)
NCAT is saddled with the onus to train aviation professionals.
In the third quarter of 2018 the agency didn’t do much in terms of meeting up with this obligation. However, there are ongoing plans to admit more trainees this year. The reduction in the number of available aircrafts is driving a number of pilots and engineers out of jobs, the solace anticipated with the proposed take of the national carrier ‘Nigeria Air’ has dissipated with the indefinite suspension of the project.
Total score = 35
Grade E (35%)
Summary
With the 2019 general elections around the corner, a lot of attention is likely going to tilt towards the elections but agencies have few excuses not to deliver on their mandate in this last quarter of 2018. Expect a more robust appraisal of agencies in the transport sector from the MMS Plus stable at the end of the year.
