NIGERIA could draw the ire of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) responsible for regulating shipping; following the sale of three residential buildings belonging to The Memorandum Of Understanding On Port State Control For West And Central African Region generally referred to as Abuja MoU.
Disclosing this to TribuneOnline exclusively over the weekend, the Secretary-General of the Abuja MoU, Mrs Mfon Ekong Usoro revealed that the choice properties located in Ikoyi, Lagos State were sold off by the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on Federal Government landed properties without the knowledge of the Secretariat or the Federal Ministry of Transportation. She, however, stated that the Secretariat, upon finding out, reported the diplomatic breach to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, and that the Minister, alongside his Permanent Secretary, are currently investigating the issue.
According to Mrs Mfon Usoro, “Three buildings allocated by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Abuja MoU were sold by the Presidential Implementation Committee. The Federal Ministry of Transportation was not aware of the sale of the three properties until we reported the matter to the Honourable Minister of Transportation.
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“The Minister and his Permanent Secretary have waded in to salvage Nigeria’s image in the eyes of Abuja MoU Member States and the international community.
“This a very sad one because it is coming at a time Nigeria requires the votes of the same Member States to attain its goal of being admitted into the IMO Council.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria being the host country for the Abuja MoU secretariat, guaranteed the Member States the inviolability of Abuja MoU properties and protection which is customary to diplomatic privileges. One of the properties is occupied by an expatriate from the Republic of Togo, another is assigned to expatriate from Sierra Leone/Ghana whoever arrives first.
“However, the properties were sold off by the PIC, amounting to diplomatic breach on the Abuja MoU. All three properties were sold by the PIC prior to notification of Abuja MoU,” stated Mfon Usoro.
The Abuja MoU is one of the 9 Regional MoUs and 1 national MoU established pursuant to IMO Resolution A.682(17) of 1991. The Organisation operates under a Cooperative Agreement with the IMO. Abuja MoU was established as an inter-governmental organization comprising of the Maritime Administrations of countries abutting the Atlantic coast of Africa.
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