'Inadequate Legislation and Regulations of Ports Nosedived maritime Sector' - Dr. Segun Musa
-Calls for Integrated Framework to Sustain the Blue Economy
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Publisher, Global Transport Policy, Dr. Segun Musa has identified political compensation appointments experienced at Nigerian ports as a major factor mitigating the maritme sector and needs to be rectified.
Speaking at the 8th anniversary celebration of National Pathfinder and Public Lecture held in Lagos on Thursday, Dr. Musa who was once a Lagos State gubernatorial candidate in 2019 under Advanced National Democratic Party(ANDP) bewailed the idea of using the maritime sector to compensate politicians, saying it has nosedived the sector.
"The industry is a critical sector that needs master mariner, professionals to be at its helms not political compensation appointees that have limited knowledge about the sector. This is killing the Ports, it doesn't encourage enough trainings and more skills are diminished within a short confine. Inorder to be able to harness the potentials within the system, there is need to start doing things right. If a master mariner is appointed as the minister, the sector will thrive."
"For example, when we realized the congestion in the port, we thought of a way to bycot inland container depot which can be achievable through rail. We start emphasizing for rail development and when the opportunity came to start connecting our port to the rail lines, to the industry through the rail, the government rather connected passenger coaches which we never deficit for. With the huge loans collected, how will passengers pay back. It is only cargo that can pay the loans and they did not make coaches for cargoes available, except for the few they just started experimenting lately. Whereas everything they supposed to start with should have been coaches to carry cargo and freight since the commencement of the raill project under Obasanjo administration,"
He bemoaned the loss accrued as a result of having inexperienced ministers at the relms of the industry and the impact on port congestion, which could have been avoided through Cargo coaches on rail corridor.
Giving reasons for the creation of marine and blue economy, he said the component is to give major actors in the industry, an insight to know the potentials that have not been harnessed properly.
The freight forwarder doyen, who has spent over three decades in the industry opined that an inclusive policy framework will help harness the potentials within the blue economy which will result to advance economy.
He called on government to ensure holistic automation of the Port, enabling environment for both public and private investments, encourage local community engagement and deplo open market policies that will not endangered or frustrate private investors out of business.
Also speaking at the interactive session held in Rockview Hotel, Prince Olayiwola Shittu JP, CEO/Chairman Skellas Group, who was represented by Dr. Pius Ujubuonu buttressed Dr. Musa's point adding that government should encourage appointment of professionals to strategic positions in the sector that will help move the industry forward.
Chief Chukwu Osita Patrick, National Coordinator, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders Importers and Exporters Coalition also maintained that government need to be more proactive in dealing with critical sectors as transport especially in a area of policies that will drive the industry towards achieving its objectives.
In their goodwill messages, they appreciated the Organiser for his initiative and encouraged him not to relent his efforts in organizing Roundtable discussions as this that will help foster activities within port environment and also move industry forward.
However, in his welcome address, Nze livinus Onwugbolu, Publisher of Pathfinder and also Organiser of the event themed "Blue Economy - the need to reposition Nigeria's Maritime Industry to Drive National Economic Development" expressed gratitude for the actualization of the event and turn out of stakeholders but remarked that for Nigeria to enjoy the benefits of the inherent blue economy, there is need to reposition the maritme industry.
He noted that the essence of the blue economy is to properly harness the Nigeria Maritime potentials in the quest for repositioning the economy. "The sector holds potentials that has not been fully utilized. Without repositioning the industry, I don't think it will be able to play the role it is expected to play," he stressed.
