Reactions have started trailing the recent disclosure by the federal government that Greece investors will be setting up a ship building outfit in Niger Delta. The Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) has lauded the move, saying that it will be cheaper to have such a facility in Nigeria.
President of the association; Captain Tajudeen Alao, disclosed this in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos last week.
Recall that the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Edobor Iyamu last week in Abuja, said that investors from Greece will set up a ship building outfit in the Niger Delta. He also said that the company will train the ex-agitators in fishing.
Capt Alao, while commending the initiative maintained that the government should take into consideration the cost of getting such structure in the country.
“Look, anything that will add value and that will bring in activities into Nigeria, Master Mariners are ready to partner, but they must get it right.
What ship do they want to build, do they want to assemble ships and what is the cost, what will be the final cost. So, before the government says they want to partner, they should do their final work very well and know that when they bring in the seal and the joints, they can weld and it will be cheaper than bringing it in totally”, he advised.
He also questioned why some ship building companies like the West-Atlantic ship yard, which were in the country left.
The Master Mariners boss, also harped on the need for the nation to have a ship building village.
“We need to create a ship building village, where we can train and engage people otherwise everything will be like that. We don’t need to make noise, people will see what you are doing and they will give you kudos for it, you will make mountain out of nothing”, he counseled.
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