By Joshua Yousouph
Retiring Director, Strategic Planning and Research at the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Rotimi Anifowose has called for stronger government support and protection for indigenous ship owners, stressing that local operators require a more enabling environment to compete effectively in the maritime industry.
Anifowose, who joined the Nigerian Shippers’ Council as a Public Relations Officer in 1992, will retire later this year after a career spanning more than three decades in public service.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily last week during an interview after 34 years of service at the Council, Anifowose said the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy should prioritise policies that encourage indigenous participation in shipping and logistics while creating conditions that would enable local operators to thrive.
According to him, government intervention does not necessarily have to come in the form of direct financial support, but through policies and frameworks that provide local players with a fair opportunity to grow.
“Everything has to be done. We are not saying that the Ministry should give money. The enabling environment should be created and strengthened. You cannot say that your indigenous shipowners should not be protected. There should be some level of protection for them,” he said.
The administrator noted that while foreign investors remain important to the growth of the sector, indigenous operators should not be left to compete without adequate support, especially given their strategic role in national economic development.
Anifowose further urged the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to intensify efforts toward improving port infrastructure and multimodal transport systems, saying stakeholders who have spent decades in the industry would like to see visible improvements rather than policy pronouncements alone. “We are not saying that foreign operators should be disadvantaged, but these are our indigenous operators. They are the ones just coming up and they should be encouraged. There should be policies that go beyond paper declarations and demonstrate government’s commitment to their growth,” he stated.
He also advocated stronger coordination among agencies under the Ministry, noting that collaboration within the marine and blue economy sector has improved significantly over the last two years but could still be strengthened further.
The retiring director identified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a major opportunity for Nigeria’s maritime sector, adding that the country must take deliberate steps to maximise opportunities in exports, cargo throughput, logistics hub development and indigenous shipping services.
According to him, Nigeria’s marine and blue economy also holds enormous potential in fisheries, aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine biotechnology, offshore renewable energy, maritime transport and logistics.
Speaking on the future of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, he expressed optimism that the organisation’s planned transition into the Nigerian Port Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA) would strengthen economic regulation in the port sector, improve transparency in port pricing, protect the interests of both shippers and investors, and enhance overall port efficiency.
