THE unending crisis in Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has gone worse as Monica Nkechi Mbanefo, a Nigerian presently working as a Director, Technical Cooperation Division in International Maritime Organisation, IMO, has allegedly withdrawn her candidature for the post of Secretary General in the forthcoming IMO election slated for the month of June 2011.

Her Grouse
Sources in the maritime sector told National Daily that Mbanefo, a lawyer with 37 years experience, 24 of which has been in the Transport/ Maritime industry was allegedly livid with anger when she realized that the campaign for her proposed election is being used as 'bait' to exploit the nation's economy. Moreover, the squabble in NIMASA has brought Nigeria into public odium in the eyes of all 169 member countries of the IMO, including the UN, OIC, AU, D8 and other bodies.
Investigations by National Daily revealed that if Nigeria's representative had contested, there is every tendency that we may not win the coveted seat. National Daily learnt that the Ministry of Transport set up a-7man committee to travel to London and plead with Mbanefo to re-consider her stand, being that she is the most qualified Nigerian to contest for the post.  Sources said she was angrier and wondered why she is being compelled against her wish at this juncture to contest the IMO Seat.

Transport Minister's request to the President on IMO election
In a letter in the possession of National Daily a copy received from the Office of the President, signed by Chief of Staff to the President, dated July 1, 2010, with Ref. No. MT. 206/S.58/C6/11, it showed how Yusuf Suleiman, Honourable Minister of Transport, HMOT requested for presidential approval to 'financially and morally' offer support to Mbanefo for the post of Secretary-General in IMO. The letter with a stamp 'restricted', reads: “His Excellency, Mr. President is graciously invited to approve that Mbanefo should contest as Scribe in IMO election, with support from the Ministry of Transport”.

Chief of Staff to the President comments on the request
His unedited comments are: “We sought clarification from HMOT to ascertain the nature of support that will be required and have been advised that besides lobbying Council Members of the IMO, which the Ministry will address, His Excellency, Mr. President could also use his good offices to seek support from friends of Nigeria. This position has also been endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We believe that both ministries should be encouraged to develop a joint strategy to ensure the success of Mbanefo's candidacy.
The memo confirmed how President Goodluck Jonathan directed HMOT and Foreign Affairs Ministry to support the candidature of Mbanefo to be the next scribe of IMO. This memo, we learnt was sent earlier through the office of Suleiman and it is the 'usual practice' that all cost relating to IMO campaign should be borne by NIMASA.

Transport & Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting
National Daily gathered that after Mr. President's approval, both Ministers swung into action and note-verbal was communicated to all 169 member countries to support the candidature of Mbanefo in IMO election.

Nigeria's Alternative Permanent Reps solicits for campaign funds
Further investigation by National Daily  showed how Williams Azuh, Nigeria Alternative Permanent Representative to IMO could not carry out his responsibility to give material and financial support to Mbanefo due insufficient funds in the NIMASA imprest account in Barclays Bank London.
This eventually led to a formal request for additional funds and approval for the transfer of £300,000 from NIMASA main account in Barclays Bank to the imprest account of Nigeria's Permanent Reps in the same bank. The fund was to be used as operational expense and would cover such things as office accommodation for the campaign, operating expense for the campaign, esta-code / traveling cost for Mbanefo to cover the entire campaign.
Of the £300,000 so transferred only the sum of £26,666 was taken out for the payment of office space and this was done directly to the agents and the office is presently being used as campaign secretariat, while the balance of £270,000 was still intact in the Agency's account in Barclays bank.

EFCC angle
EFCC angle
This National Daily learnt was given a wrong interpretation by a section of the Board members of NIMASA who petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, whereas, the £270,000 is still in the account of the maritime agency in London, accruing interest.

NIMASA account closed
If information reaching us is anything to go by, then hard times may have finally 'catches-up' with the maritime agency as National Daily gathered that the agency's account was frozen by an insurance firm (names with held) which had long undertaken life insurance policy for the entire staff. Since it had repeatedly written the agency for payment of their premiums and they refused.
The insurance firm allegedly approached a court that eventually issued an injunction against withdrawal of money from the agency's account under any guise.

DG contemplates resignation
National Daily learnt that in view of the crisis in the agency, the DG is allegedly contemplating to throw in the towel, to keep his integrity.

Position of NIMASA
When National Daily called Gbenga Ogunshakin, the new Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the agency to respond to all the allegations, he simply responded by saying “I don't have a track record that can trail all these allegations. There is no template for me to confirm this. There is no way I can give you an exhaustive explanation and I don't believe this spurious rumour since I just withdrew some funds from the Access bank account of the agency last week. I believe the DG is in the position to react on Mbanefo issue. I can tell you that the DG and the directors are in Abuja now to defend the budget of the agency at the National Assembly.” When confronted that the appointment of the DG contravened NIMASA Act which emphasize that “The DG of NIMASA must have a core-competence in Maritime”, he said “There are people that learn on the job because laws are meant to be interpreted with intelligence and decorum”.

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First Nigerian to show class in government position.
Imagine they dey beg am she dey threaten to resign from contesting.