Comrade Umar Omezia Jimoh (Deputy President, SSACTAC)
I would say that we have achieved a lot over a period of time, especially from the time of port concession, this does not mean that we have reached where we are going or where we are supposed to be, we are still far from it, though since the port concession of 2006, people have been doing business with less pain, but in real sense, is this the position of our maritime industry? I would say No. We need to go back to the drawing board and see where we need to harness and build the sector in tandem with international standards. I am not sure you can visit other ports and find their ports access roads the way our own roads are, Apapa is the premier port in Nigeria, but there is no way you can use the roads. It is not the duty of NPA to repair the roads, it is neither the freight forwarders nor the customs, but it is the duty of the Ministry of Works. Theroads within the ports are okay, but immediately you are out of the port, you are on your own. Government needs to come quickly to port users’ aid by fixing that road. The turnaround time of vessels has improved and this has led to the cost of doing business in our ports, vessels that are supposed to discharge within five days now spend two weeks.
David Ogah (Journalist)
The Nigerian maritime sector at a time after independence experienced some developments, but for the past decade the sector has been in comatose and even the present administration seems to be helpless about it. Maritime is a key sector, more so now that the oil and gas sector has failed Nigeria, it should be a source of revenue generation for the country today, the sector alone can generate the needed employment, if Nigerian vessels are operating within the coast of our waters, we know the number of seafarers that would be employed, but since the water is dominated by foreigners, they are the ones getting employed at the expense of indigenes. The way forward is that there must be political will to develop this sector; we should empower our people to be in the local shipping business so that they could also own vessels.
Nzeribe Ebere (Secretary, ANLCA Tin Can Chapter)
The only thing we have been constantly seeing is policy somersault, there is never a continuation in our policy implementation, and no government likes to continue from where his predecessor stopped, he would rather introduce his own. We have not seen any meaningful development in the maritime sector compared to other climes, look at countries like Singapore and other smaller countries, at some point about 30 years ago, they were at the same level with Nigeria, but look at where they are today compared to Nigeria, some 30 years ago, we were on same level with Brazil, but today Brazil is producing cars and their maritime sector is booming, but in Nigeria no meaningful achievement has been recorded.
Comrade Pius David (Stakeholder)
Since independence, the industry has fared well to some certain level and if someone would say the industry has not fared any better, then such a person is not sincere to himself. However, a lot needs to be done when you compare our own maritime sector with other nations’ that obtain independence during the same period. For instance Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia, if you compare the level of development in the maritime sector with these countries, then you will agree with me that we are lagging far behind. In their ports for example, exports and imports are almost at the same level, structures at the ports are fantastic, and these ports are better organised when compare to ours. In our ports, we have so many bottlenecks are still pending, which have made Nigeria the most expensive ports in the world to do business and that is why a lot of investors in the sector are not being encouraged.
Comrade Sylvester Keshinro (Patron JCOST)
It is a pity that during 1970s and 1980s things were a bit better when compared to what is obtainable at the moment. But it will be fair to say that the port industry thrived better then. However, what we see today is nothing to write home about; considering the infrastructural decay within the port. For example the roads are bad, structures at the ports are near-collapse, no renovation or whatsoever. It is so disheartening to say that after these long years of independence, Nigeria is retrogressing.
Engineer Matthew Alalade (President, Merchant Navy)
There have being some level of improvement since independence; no doubt about that, but we still have a long way to go in line with international best practice. The disadvantages are more that the advantages, therefore the government needs to x-ray the sector surgically for optimal growth. I think there is need for government to look inward in resolving issues surrounding the maritime industry because we don't really need to celebrate at the moment considering the fact that things are getting tougher for us all. We believe that it is better to be late than never. We want investors and the government to provide the necessary amenities for the port sector to thrive. The shipping sector in Nigeria needs government’s involvement to the fullest. The issue of floating a national carrier is one thing that the government should look at urgently.
Frank Aliakor (ANLCA)
The maritime sector has mixed feelings since independence in my own view. During the 1960s, we can say the sector was booming very well until recently when things turned from sweet to sour. The period under review now has destroyed the past glory of the industry. There are so many challenges that have befallen the industry as we speak and one of it is the fact that we are yet to get a national carrier which is the pride of every nation. Turnaround time of vessels has dropped drastically and above all government policies are not favourable at the moment. Therefore the sector is not really what we can celebrate at the moment.
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