Amaechi, Says Nigeria Set to Release Funds for MOWCA Maritime Bank

Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has reassured of the Nigerian government’s readiness to release its counterpart funding for the Regional Maritime Development Bank (RMDB).

Amaechi  disclosed this when he received Dr Paul Adalikwu, Secretary-General of Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) in Abuja, adding that Nigeria will gladly identify with the project.

The Minister also assured Adalikwu that efforts would be set in motion to secure an official accommodation space for the bank in Abuja.

Amaechi also promised to reach out to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and urged other member states to come forward with their financial contributions.

Amaechi said: “We will be glad to put our resources down for the bank as soon as you are ready. We will just instruct them in Lagos to release the fund for you.

“We are also ready to provide accommodation for the bank and we look forward to other states making their contributions. We wouldn’t want our money to be tied down.”

On his part, the MOWCA Secretary-General, Dr Paul Adalikwu, who led an incubation committee comprising Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville representatives, commended the Nigerian government for supporting his candidacy.

Adalikwu also applauded Nigeria for payment of its arrears which has supported MOWCA in meeting some of its obligations to member states and employees.

The MOWCA Secretary-General disclosed that eight countries have signed up for the charter with an interim board put in place.

He informed the Minister that the mandate for Nigeria to host the bank has been in place for ten years but activities for its creation were kick-started by Amaechi when he became Minister of Transportation.

Adalikwu hinted that steps have been taken to make the organisation vibrant and fulfil its mandates, stressing that an organogram has been created with every employee’s schedule of duties duly specified.

He lamented that some of the employees he met on the ground were inexperienced with inadequate education to man the offices they occupy and that communication has been activated with member states to nominate qualified persons that would help the organisation run smoothly and efficiently.

Prof Gerard Messina a representative of the Cameroonian Transport Minister informed Amaechi that his country is convinced of the ability of Nigeria and Adalikwu to strengthen the organisation.