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The Minister’s men: How Oyetola ‘recommended’ appointments of his political allies into strategic maritime agencies

Investigation by Eyewitness roving reporters
An investigation has shown that Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, utilised his maximum power as the supervising Minister in the maritime sector to recommend, albeit influenced, the appointments of his political allies to strategic positions in some of the critical agencies in the industry.
Some of the agencies in the sector which the Minister superintendent over include the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Nigerian Shippers’Council(NSC), National Inland Waterways Authority(NIWA), and Maritime Academy of Nigeria(MAN), Oron.
Oyetola, the pioneer Minister of the newly created ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, under the civil service rules and guidelines on appointments, has the power, just like all Ministers, to recommend to the President, appointees into these agencies under his ministry.
He was first appointed Minister of Transportation by President Bola Ahmeed Tinubu on 16th, August 2023, but was redeployed four days later to the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
However, using his power of “recommendation”, Adegboyega brought his political allies of Osun state politics into strategic positions in NIMASA, NPA and NIWA.
As the immediate past Governor of Osun State from 2018 to 2022, the Minister recommended a few trusted allies who have either worked with him as the governor or affiliates of his political godfathers.
Our roving reporter gathered that Dr Dayo Mobereola, the Director General of NIMASA, Engr. Fatai Taye Adeyemi, Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Engr. Olalekan Badmus, Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA, and Alhaji Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, Managing Director of NIWA, were a few of the political affiliates of Oyetola who were appointed on the ” strong recommendation” of the Minister.
Bola Munitudeen Oyebamiji, MD NIWA: He is an experienced banker of more than 28 years.
Oyebamiji served as a two-term commissioner for Finance during the tenure of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola as former governors of Osun State.

According to the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the appointment of Alhaji Oyebamiji was on the recommendation of Marine and Blue Economy Minister, Gboyega Oyetola.It could be recalled that the appointments of both Alhaji Oyebamiji as the MD of NIWA and Barrister Akutah Ukeyima, the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers’Council, were announced in October 2023 on the recommendation of the Minister.

He was the immediate past commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties in Osun state between 2019 and 2022 during the tenure of Adegboyega Oyetola as governor.

His efforts also gave him further responsibilities like the Honourable Commissioner supervising the ministries of Culture and Tourism as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs between June 2022 and November 2022.Engr.Fatai Taiye Adeyemi, Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA: The NIMASA Executive Director, Operations had managed the mechanical departments of both Osun and Oyo State water Corporations at different times.

He was also a former Local government chairman under Oyetola’s administration as former Osun state governor.Dr. Dayo Mobereola, NIMASA DG: The political affliction of Dr. Mobereola to the Minister is far-fetched because he had his public service appointments in Lagos state before his current appointment.

However, he was said to be an Osun state indigene with alleged strong political affiliation to Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former Governor of Osun state, under whom Adegboyega Oyetola served as Chief of Staff.Insider sources told our roving reporter that there may still be more of such “recommendations” when appointments into the boards of these agencies; NPA, NIMASA, NIWA, Shippers’ Council and MAN, Oron are made in the nearest future.

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