LAGOS – By Victoria Hanson
The Federal Government has been urged to provide adequate rail lines from the ports to major cities in Nigeria and to also look into the issue of porous borders.
The stakeholders who made the call during the 9th anniversary and maritime lecture of the Quest Media Award, explained that Maritime is one of the major sectors that the government could use to bridge the revenue gap created by the slump in crude oil prices in the international market.
Speaking on the theme, “Transport /Maritime Sector, The Pros and Cons of the evolving Change As It Affects the revenue drive Of The Nation”, Prof Iyiola Oni (Dean Faculty Of Social Sciences, Unilag), said that the major problems facing the industry include non inter-agency cooperation and full implementation and enforcement of the critical provisions of the cabotage law and lack of advocacy group to constantly put government on it toes on policy implementation in the Maritime industry.
He also identified the Bill which he said has provisions for various aspects of port operations, especially the roles and responsibilities of key players in the nation’s seaports which suffered set back in the sixth assembly as one of the challenges.
The Assistant Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps Zone Rs2 Command Lagos, Nseobong C Akpabio said that transport sub-sector of Nigeria economy offers large avalanche of opportunities for development that still remand untapped.
According to National Bureau of statistics, Akpabio who was the chairman of 2016 Quest Media anniversary mapped out that “GDP from transport in Nigeria was averaged 185889.17 million Naira from 2010 until 2016,reaching an all time high of 229523 and 13 million Naira in the fourth quarter of 2015 and a record low of 144848,while 60 million Naira in the first quarter of 2010”.
He disclosed that the consistent slow growth of the industry need to be accelerated in order to optimise the available opportunity through strategic investments and management. He therefore, commended the organisers of the event for bringing to fore the theme for discussion.
The former President of National Government Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF),said that the federal government is in the fore front of addressing some of the issues, such as the concession agreement .
He advised the publisher/Editor in chief of The Quest Media to continue piloting the gesture for the benefit of the nation.
In a welcome address, the publisher /Editor in chief of Quest Media Group, Mr Felix O. Kumuyi called on government to evolve vibrant policies through various knowledgeable technocrats that abound with the transport /Maritime sector in driving the unexpected sector to greater heights.
He also used the opportunity to condemn the hard earned foreign currencies and capital flight and also encouraged local industries in the sector which he said have been dropped to their lowest percent.
Awards were given to different Maritime stakeholders for their contributions towards the group and to some Maritime reporters.
Others who also spoke on the theme were Dr. Eugene Nweke (CEO/MD Virtues Marine Freight Services Nigeria Limited, Prince Olayiwola Shittu among others.
