Stakeholders of the Maritime Sector have met to consider a way forward for the Sector, amidst a myriad of challenges plaguing it, at the Maritime Platform National Discourse and Induction of Panel of Maritime Analysts which had as its theme: “Nigerian Maritime Sector In The Next 5 Years: Deciding Where We Want To Be.”
In his opening remark, the Chairman of the event, Otunba Kunle Folarin, noted that the maritime sector was very important to the economy but lamented at the poor state of the sector with regards to inefficient manpower, low capacity building, government regulations and sundry issues that need to be addressed.
He said, “The expectations from stakeholders are many, and the national expectation is important”.
Folarin expressed hope that the event would be a veritable platform for “strategic engagement from the government to act on the communiqué that shall be released, so that it will go beyond a mere event and become a reality.”
The Chief Executive Officer of Platform Communications, Mr. Sylvanus Obasi in his opening address, reiterated that it was important for the Maritime Sector to take its place as the second-highest revenue earner for Nigeria.
In his words, “Change has come to Nigeria; the change that many Nigerians desired and voted for is here and the maritime sector is already feeling the impact of that change.”
Speaking further, Obasi stated that in this new dispensation and in line with international requirements and expectations, it was needful for practitioners to align with the change philosophy of the current government.
He said that the event was put together to enable stakeholders brainstorm on the short-term, mid-term and long-term needs of the industry within the next 5 years, to share ideas on the best approach to attain their collective goals, and to draw the attention of the new regime to the expectations of maritime stakeholders through a sustained and consistent advocacy.
On his part, the Acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Haruna Baba Jauro observed that the Maritime Sector was on a good footing despite the occasional setbacks, as there had been considerable increase in funding to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.
He pointed out that the establishment of four more Maritime Institutes across Nigeria was an important stride towards development of the sector.
Represented by Capt. Sunday Umoren, the NIMASA DG revealed that the Agency, in line with its mandate, was already perfecting strategies to ensure that Nigerian seafarers have sea time experience onboard vessels, and to ensure that approval from NIMASA became part of requirements to be satisfied before maritime-related contract applications were awarded.
He took the time to point out the constraints placed by customs in trade facilitation, and called for the upward review of terms placed on foreign-owned vessels by government, while granting waivers and
rebates to indigenous vessels as a step towards strengthening the Maritime Industry.
The lead paper was presented by Hon. Dr. Chris Asoluka, who took time to berate the regulators and operators of the industry for their shoddy attitudes.
In his words, “Shipping in Nigeria is constrained because of the attitude of its leaders,” emphasizing the need for Nigeria to develop its maritime potentials because whoever controls the world’s trade controls the wealth of the world, while calling for improved policies, but noted that even if the policies were improved, they needed to be implemented.
According to him, “Policies must be linked with development and there is need for harmony and integration of the critical stakeholders and industry ‘influencers’ so that the level of advocacy will be stronger, thereby turning dilemma into development.
Similarly, the President of Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Engr. Greg Ogbeifun stated that the Nigerian maritime industry should be able to dominate its local maritime trade which was more than enough to create over a million jobs for the teeming youths of Nigeria.
He urged the government to support shippers as they cannot do it all by themselves, stressing that the last administration spent extensive resources to put together a report which the present administration can study and employ its recommendations to move the industry forward rather than jettison it to start a new committee.
In the opinion of Mr. Celestine Akujobi who stood in for the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello, the Maritime Sector had experienced “massive capital flight” over the years resulting to leakages in revenue which made Nigerian ports loose patronage to competing ports in neighboring countries like Ghana and Benin Republic.
Akujobi called for an overhaul of the operations of the Industry, which at present was in crisis when compared to other ports around the world, adding that even though the Council, being the Industry regulator, was at the forefront of abolishing irregular charges at the ports and upgrading of services in the Industry, there was still much ground to cover.
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