Captain Tajudeen Alao
The Dock is a built-for-purpose asset and designed for a particular location. Any modifications will be at an extra cost. We should go back to the drawing board. But again, it is a government asset. The government may decide to reconsider its option; using political consideration. Above all, the industry is suffering from the lack of services it is meant to provide.
Engineer Bob Yousou
It is not a bad idea. The Nigerian Navy has the capacity to manage it. This is the right time. If NIMASA has decided to allow the Nigerian Navy to take the operations of the Floating Dock, to me it is a good idea. I believe the Navy will be able to effectively utilize the facility if given the opportunity to.
Captain Deji Abegunde
I have no objection, anyway because the Nigerian Navy had been handling their Dock at Victoria Island. They have improved and have been doing very well. It is government money given back to the government. I think I agree if it can be given to the Navy. It could be a good move if the Navy can judiciously use it. Their dockyard has been there for many decades. So if we have something like that, I think it is better.
Captain Saliu Adetayo
If they (NIMASA) went to acquire a floating dock, they must have had what they wanted to do with it before acquiring it. To be sincere with you, it is not making a lot of sense. They must have done their proposal and know what to do with such equipment before purchasing it. You must have your expertise and the business enabling environment for that facility. It is a huge sum of money and you cannot tie such money down. I know the Navy will make use of it because the dockyard is there. They will probably add it to their facility and make good use of it. But in the right sense of it, it should be used for the seafarers. It should create employment for the seafarers. NIMASA is not in charge of the Navy. They are a regulatory body for the maritime industry. So, whatever they are bringing in should create employment for seafarers and their cohorts. If the floating dock is given to the Navy, how are the seafarers going to be employed? It will be only the naval people and they will give it to their contractors. So where are the stakeholders that are supposed to benefit?
Captain Alfred Oniye
Let the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency hand over the facility of the floating dock first. Let’s see what the Nigerian Navy will do with it and the benefit of that to the maritime industry and Nigeria’s economy at large.
Engineer Matthew Alalade
They had a programme to hand over to the Nigeria Ports Authority. They had been in that process before. So, I don’t know why they want to hand it over to the Navy now. If they hand over to NPA, it will create more employment. I think they should do whatever they want to do and hand it over to anybody, so that it will create more jobs for people and more stream of income in the maritime industry. It is okay if they give it to the Navy. I believe the Navy will utilize it.
Captain Adewale Ishola
There is nothing wrong with that, since the Navy has a dockyard already. The floating dock is even in their custody at the moment. It is for a commercial venture and not for a naval purpose. There will be agreement on how they will make money for NIMASA. There is nothing wrong with that. It is like giving it to Nigerdock. They already have experience with dry docking, because they already had a dry dock. So it is not a problem. There is nothing wrong with that.
Captain Thomas Kemewerigha
Ordinarily, the Navy was not supposed to be a profit-oriented organisation. Their function is clearly spelt-out to, which is to defend our territorial waters and integrity. Today, the Navy has gone into commercialisation. They have a shipyard, they have this and that. I am not in a position to ascertain the accountability of all their commercial activities with the Nigeria Ministry of Defence. If they are in the right direction and accountable, the floating dock that will generate money is also for commercial purposes. If NIMASA wants to go into commercial activities with a floating dock, they should give it to marine professionals. Although the Navy too has some, but like I said earlier, they are both supposed to be involved. It should be given to core professionals that are running docking activities in Nigeria and the terms of the agreement should be clearly stated and published to the knowledge of stakeholders. The issue of the Navy being involved in commercial activities is not really too good in the eyes of the international community.
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