Aare Sanni Shittu (Vice Chair, ANLCA BOT)
Aare Sanni Shittu (Vice Chair, ANLCA BOT)
For the maritime industry, the year 2013 is a mixed reaction, the environment has been a very poor one as a result of the decadence in infrastructures such as the bad roads; coming to the port, we still find it difficult and we are always scared of coming because the roads are bad and it is like the government has abandoned it, we seem to have a relieve now because they are working on it. Haven said this, many of the government policies in the industry have not equally been friendly, but thank God we have PAAR now which we hope will bring back the glory of the job, we are looking up to it seriously so that our job can be taken from the hands of the foreigners. Nigeria is supposed to be the hub of cargo traffic and to this extent, much is desired from us. The NPA has not been living up to its expectation but with the new man at the helm of affairs now, I think they are waking up. Considering the terminal operators and shipping companies, they have not lived up to expectation, we have follow-up charges that are not seen anywhere in the world, this is happening because there is no regulatory authority, but thank God that the Shippers’ Council is back now and they are living up to expectation by way of regulating these people that have been on their own for a very long time.
Remi Ogungbemi (Chairman, AMARTO)
There is nothing to write home about the sector because it is suffering from so many ailments that the doctors have not diagnosed. The environment in which we operate is very hostile, we get the hostility from several quarters which I don't want to mention, that is why we are seeing what we are doing at the Trade Fair Complex now as a way forward that will cushion the hardship and the trauma that the truck operators are passing through, truck drivers are always on the queue for several days carrying empty containers all about, and the trucks remain loaded until the empty container is off, these are the issues we are working to address. We cannot continue like this, the traffic situation is giving us serious concerns, arrangement is already on to bring normalcy to the traffic situation so that any vehicle that are coming into the port will have access and those coming out of the port will have a free movement, very soon, it will all become a thing of the past with the Trade Fair arrangement.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam (Founder, NAGAFF)
There has been lots of changes and innovations, especially on the issue of the PAAR application which you will agree with me is in line with the transformation agenda of the federal government. If you look at the Cabotage law, it is tailored towards creating capacity within the local content, so transferring destination inspection back to the customs is a great milestone, you can also see the management of the custom is addressing the issue of backlog inherent in the transition where relevant sections of customs law like section 27 and 28 has been revoked, creating opportunity for people to make use of Bill of Right in order to create better business in the port. On the part of the CRFFN, I don't think we have fared well there. On cargo throughput at the port and fiscal policies, it has not been quite interesting this year, especially when you look at automobile importation, it means that smuggling will increase because we have not provided a substitute. On the part of the terminal operators and shipping companies, they have been under pressure, especially the APMT, if we don't become compliant with import regulations, the pressure will always be there at the port.
Comrade Julius Efokpor (Sec, Gen Merchant Navy)
In 2013, there has been a lot of challenges in the maritime industry but we all know these things occur anywhere in the world, but we thank God that most of those challenges were addressed to some certain level and I think next year will be better. Therefore I will say 2013 experience massive changes in all ramifications of the maritime industry.
Alhaji Olalere Isiaka (Chairman RTEAN, Tin Can Branch)
There has been a massive improvement this year compared to last year and I believe that in 2014 things will get better than what we experienced in 2013. From the freight forwarding practice to the haulage business, I must say that we are moving forward in achieving international best practices as far as the maritime sector is concerned. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council did wonderfully well this year and we hope they will do more in 2014, we also want the government to expedite actions to pass the Ports and Harbour bill into law to help bring about efficiency in port operations.
Dan Williams (PRO FFAN)
The maritime industry for 2013 has been a tremendous year no doubt ,even though there is still need for improvement. But the aspect I would want us and the government to improve upon mostly is the area of congestions in the ports and for them to look inward and put in place a commercial regulator that will check the excesses of the concessionaires. But fair enough, the maritime sector fared better in 2013.
Engineer Isaac Isunama (President, AMERO)
There have been massive changes this year alone in the maritime sector. NIMASA in 2013 has improved, we experienced the new ICT which is the first of its kind in Africa and is a way for the agency to meet international standard which was not in place before now. It is obvious that NIMASA has improved in service delivery. However, apart from congestions at the port that we experienced this year, I am glad to say that the maritime sector for this year is better, what is left now is for government to improve in the area of security on our waters in order to put an end to pirate activities in our domain.
Engineer Matthew Alalade (President Merchant Navy)
We witnessed lots of challenges this year most especially attacks by pirates on our members, but we know that the federal government on their part through NIMASA did a lot by putting in place measures to curb the menace at sea to some certain level. The MOU between NIMASA and the Air Force in 2013 has helped to reduce pirate activities at sea. But we will advice the government to involve the host communities to help and assist in securing the waters. As regards port operations, we experienced industrial peace this year and the issue of congestion is the only problem recorded, but above all, 2013 has been fair, we hope 2014 brings the best of the maritime sector.
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