The President, Shippers’ Association Lagos State (SALS), Rev. Dr. Jonathan Nicol has hinted that the association will soon metamorphose into a body to be known as Federation of Shippers’ Association of Nigeria (FONSA).
Nicol who disclosed this while delivering his welcome address at the just concluded 2nd
Shippers’ Day Celebration/Exhibition held in Lagos last week said that with a body such as FONSA, Nigeria would dominate the maritime industry and even surprise her trade partners.
While stressing that the period of isolation was gone, the SALS boss stated that cooperative and coordination would save the shippers with the massive changes ahead of them adding that the Federal government would be happy to have such well coordinated body behind her.
According to him,” This event marks the beginning of the Amalgamation of a very viral Maritime Institution that will eventually metamorphose into the Federation of Shippers’ Association in Nigeria (FONSA).
“The Federation of Shippers was initiated by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development over 25 years ago. We must by necessity come together and fight the economic challenges starring at our faces.
“With a powerful institution such as FONSA, Nigeria will dominate the Maritime Industry and even surprise our Trade partners. The period of isolation is gone. Now cooperative and coordination will save us with the massive changes ahead of us. Our Government will be happy to have such well coordinated institutions behind it”.
He called for the resuscitation of the informal sector of cargo management which he said would contribute as much as 45% of the total cargo throughput in the country.
“The theme of our gathering is “Approaching a New Dawn in the Maritime Sector.” Now that the New Port Order has taken off, the next step is to get rid of poverty from our system. We solicit for the resuscitation of the informal sector of cargo management. The informal sector will contribute as much as 45% of total cargo throughput.
“In this respect, we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to extend some leverage to the Maritime Sector, improve on existing facilities, remold the dead infrastructures and give the well tested individuals in the Sector the opportunities to help in Nation building”, he said.
He continued,” These Structures were established before all of us were born. We therefore owe our ancestors the debts of continuing with their cherished maritime trade. It should not collapse in our time. History has been written, a fraction of it has been read today.
“It is in this light that Shippers’ Associations were honored by the United Nations to set up Shippers Councils in all developing economies especially in Africa. They saw what will happen to the Shippers several centuries ago. Their main duty was to protect the Shippers. It took over 3 centuries to promulgate The Ports Act (Cap 55) of 1954. It is now taking the new breed of Law Makers several years to pass into Law the National Transport Commission Bill, the Port and Habour Bills, etc.
“Destiny has brought us where we are now, to find solutions to pressing economic challenges.We are here to salvage our beautiful Economic environment together. This song should not depart from our lips. Deep Sea Ports, extensive Marine Institutions, Inland Containers Depots massive marine activities, Seafarers Institutions that would have earned us foreign benefits. Fishing and Mineral exploration should commence in a large scale.
“Agro-allied industries including modular plants for self sufficiency ought to have been in place over 45 years ago”.
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