Ugochukwu Nnadi (Deputy Nat. President, NAGAFF)
Ugochukwu Nnadi (Deputy Nat. President, NAGAFF)
In this year 2015, I expect the Federal Government and even the stakeholders to think Nigeria first in whatever decision they are making, everybody should be carried along. Last year 2014, the government was more interested in revenue and this made the economy to suffer. They should take a look at the import prohibition list, the list of items banned are too many, they should build capacity locally in order to discourage people from importing; importation into Nigeria is now very risky, look at what we are going through as regards vehicles, people whose vehicles came in at the time of the auto policy, many of them lost their investments, some consignments were trapped when freight forwarders went on strike at the airport and at Apapa port, importers incurred demurrages and these milked the pocket of the investors and made the economy to suffer. We should not be thinking of importation alone, we should also be thinking about export, the foundation of any economy is adequate power supply, if this is done, we can achieve whatever we want because this will encourage people to produce locally and export.
Chris Osunkwo (Image Maker, Tin Can Customs)
Considering our performance last year, if we maintain the tempo, there is need to project that we are going to do better, we performed creditable well last year and this is not about being a judge in my own case, the records are there for everybody to see. It is going to be a case of forward ever, backward never, because to whom much is given, much is expected, we hope to give our best. Secondly, this year 2015, I will advise all clearing agents to embrace the objectives of PAAR, PAAR is to facilitate trade and ensure compliance, the moment agents can key into this, they will have a seamless clearance operation and appreciate the goodness of PAAR, and imbibe compliance and integrity.
Davids Chuks Kanikwu (Secretary, ANLCA Tin Can)
My position is that in this year 2015, our ports should be made user-friendly, trade should be facilitated, we have always been emphasizing on revenue, meanwhile the other addictive that makes us a hub is not there, fast-tracking, trade facilitation and revenue should all go together, if we over emphasis on revenue we will be driving away the people that will make the hub. Secondly, government should try and look inwards, there are so many items they prohibited, they are not blind to realise that these things are still coming into this country, if this is the case then we are making a mockery of our system and feathering the economy of neighboring countries, our borders are porous, so government should discourage banning of items, rather they should encourage regulations. Customs management should also try to put a one-stop policy that all PAAR issues should be sacrosanct, all kinds of alerts on cargoes should be stopped because it is making a mockery of customs officers, alerts should only come from headquarters.
Frank Aliakor (ANLCA, Apapa Chapter)
Apart from the general elections that is coming up which we are believing that all will be well, in the maritime industry, we are expecting an improvement because last year was full of challenges, but there were still certain areas we saw improvement in the year. But in this 2015, we are expectant on the side of customs, the CET has been launched and as we start to receive it we hope to know what the policies of government are. On the side of the PAAR, it has improved tremendously, on the side of shipping companies, we see them that they are still working with their old rates, but they need to improve this year, going to court is not the issue.
Lucky Amiwero (President, NCMDLCA)
Everything about the maritime sector is not right. We do not have the right structures on ground and even the policies of our government is not what it is supposed to be. The economy of this country is used for political game because the industry is undergoing a very serious threat. Under section 1, 2 and 3 of CEMA, the minister of Finance has an authority over the customs but it is not so in Nigeria. Our export is negative thus there is a collapse somewhere. We are not in line WTO and WCO conventions; above all no legal backing in port operation. It will only take the grace of God to see us through in 2015 because from the way it is going, the economy of the country has been battered even the beginning of 2015 will be worst and the maritime industry is not an exception. It is only God that will save us this year.
Engineer Matthew Alalade (President, Merchant Navy)
We expect that 2015 will bring all our yearnings to reality. Some of what we want; like certification, implementation of the Cabotage Act and also the need to float a national carrier that will bridge the gap between the ratings and masters is of essence. The MLC 2006 is key because the unions are involved in the tripartite arrangement. We are also appealing to the federal government to be pro-active in all ramifications. We also urged the government to increase security presence at sea for the sole aim to scare the pirates away completely.
Prince Chuks Njemanze (Chairman ANLCA, Lilypond Chapter)
The industry is one that is always affected by government policies ;knowing full well that it is the period of electioneering. The sector requires huge capitals for business transaction to thrive but considering the elections and campaigns, I know that the first quarter of 2015 will be crucial for the industry. Development in the sector will be very slow because politics will take a large chunk of monies that ordinarily would have been used for infrastructures and other maritime sector needs. Above all, first quarter of 2015 will be very stiff because of politics.
Alphosius Ezechukwu (Vice Chairman, RTEAN TICP Chapter)
The government should encourage importers as part of efforts to promote international trade. Nigeria as a country is highly import-dependent and without a good policy in place to help facilitate trade, there will be problem this year, so importers need some level of encouragement by the government. I think there will be problem for the maritime sector in 2015 if this issue is not addressed. There are other minor areas in the industry that need urgent attention by the government. For example the roads linking the seaports are bad and there are no holding bays for trucks to park in order to allow free flow of cargoes in and out of the port. But as an optimistic individual, we hope that the government will focus its attention more on the maritime industry in the year 2015.
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