Members of the Senate Committee on marine transport have agreed with the proposal that the Nigerian maritime industry deserves a separate ministry to be called Ministry of Shipping.
The agreement was sequel to a proposal that was spearheaded by leading maritime lawyer; Dr Olisa Agbakoba, when he called the attention of the Senators and stakeholders to the need to excise the maritime industry from the present Ministry of Transportation. He specifically called for the establishment of a Ministry of Shipping.
In his first intervention at the meeting which was presided over by Chairman of Senate Committee on Marine Transport; Senator Ahmed Sanni Yerima, Dr Agbakoba wondered why the shipping sector does not have a distinct ministry. He argued that the sector is far bigger and contributes more to the nation’s economy than the aviation sector, which has a full-fledged ministry.
The request was meant was a thunderous applause from the stakeholders, a development which also got the nod of the senators.
Apparently buoyed by the support, Agbakoba pushed further. “I have always wondered why the maritime sector which is bigger than aviation doesn’t have a ministry. It is always a surprise to me, because I think it is a thing we must consider, shipping is bigger than aviation”.
Justifying his position, he noted that, “we can have a ministry of shipping because we are a coastal state and because most coastal states do have a ministry of shipping. Aviation is a small sector and why then do we have ministry of aviation and no shipping ministry”?
Responding to the request on behalf of the committee, Senators Mao Ohabunwa and Samuel Anayanwu who assured that the committee and indeed the Senate support the request wholeheartedly. They acknowledged that the maritime industry is big enough to have separate ministry.
Specifically, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, noted that the request was indicative of the need for the senate to look into the needs of the maritime industry, he added that creating the ministry will create more wealth for the nation.
“Things are created from legislative perspective, we will go back and put the bill and once it is accepted or even if the president refuses assent, thank God we have right to override that veto once we agree that it is something right for the industry.
“I believe with Mr Chairman, we are totally in agreement and by the grace of God, we will get that one done as soon as possible even now that we know that the shipping industry is bigger than the aviation industry and we can make more money from there”, he agreed.
On his part, Senator Samuel Anyanwu also noted that creating the ministry is the surest way to address the various challenges facing the maritime industry.
His position was informed by the catalogue of problems that the stakeholders brought before the Senators. He assured that, even though the life span of the present legislature will soon end, it will still do the needful.
“All the problems in the maritime will be solved if there is the ministry of shipping. Our own is to go back and do our job,” he told the stakeholders..
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