… Insists Nigeria Has no Reason Begging IMO, to be in Category ‘C’***
A Maritime Expert and former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), has expressed high hopes for the country’s Maritime Industry’s ability to take Nigeria’s economy out of the woods, stressing there is now a connection between the economy and the industry.
“I think things are moving up now. We are getting there, more soon, now that there’s connection between the Nigerian Maritime industry and the economy” he stated in an exclusive interview with Maritime First, recently.
He posited that the Country’s economy would eventually have to depend on the Maritime industry, noting ironically, that this connection was hitherto, not there before.
“We were being abstract about the industry and the economy, but everything we do now, is about the GDP contribution; especially what the Maritime would contribute to the Economy”.
He highlighted that the Maritime industry must be seen as being a lot better off than the Crude Oil industry, particularly in terms of its being more credible and reliable in the long run.
Hassan Bello lauded the Minister of Transportation Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, for his huge efforts in the effective coordination of the Maritime industry and the Ministry, stressing: “I am happy with what the Minister is able to do within a short time, especially striving to make a link which had been missing”.
The Maritime expert highlighted the need for Stakeholders to Synergize in a bid to see how much employment the industry can generate, as well as the revenue prospects that can be attained.
He also wanted to know how transportation can be made to positively influence transport costs, pointing out that presently, the Nigerian Ports were made to concentrate on exports, which definitely wasn’t the case before;
He was particularly happy that about five terminals were now licenced to focus on exports, which in the past, was not the case.
“Our strength actually lies on exports, because anyone can import; and we cannot be an import-dependent nation.
“We have to go down into crevices and explore our advantages; and processes.
“We cannot be a consuming nation”, he stated, adding that to escape the cul-de-sac, the port must be a key functional body.
He praised the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for taking the lead and the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recent complementary roles in the same direction, as well as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, stressing that with all of them coming together on a non-oil synergy, the anticipated result will be both inspiring and exciting.
“But to do that, we have to look at the logistics. The logistics must be efficient”, he indicated, stressing that whereas it takes only $10 to export ginger from Mexico to US; in Nigeria, it is actually about $100, as a result of the unpredictable and inefficient nature of the nation’s transportation industry.
“We spend about 40 percent of total cost of production on transport, and this is because the transport industry is not efficient”, he also said.
He however expressed great hope on things gradually picking up positively, stressing that the Lekki Deep-sea Port would soon ignite a revolution.
“I am very very happy with the Lekki Deep-sea Port. It is a game changer!”, Hassan Bello says, adding that the deep-sea port had already established the ambition of Nigeria to be the load centre or the hub of the Central and West African region, and there’s no way it can be stopped, despite the present challenges of non-availability of rail or good roads connection.
Bello emphasized that with a 16.5-metre draft, bigger ships would come, berthing more throughput, and a corresponding economic impact, alongside huge employment prospects for about 170,000 people.
Thus, the revenue would come and the Apapa, as well as the Tin Can Island Ports would more effectively play the role of efficient feeder ports.
He lauded the Federal Government’s efforts on rail’s interconnectivity development, adding that such interconnection between the seaports and the hinterland would come with great multiplier benefits.
According to the Maritime guru, with such unfolding development, when added to the unique effect of reforms gains of ports terminal privatisation, which can no longer be truncated, the benefits can only be imagined.
He however stressed the need for NPA to democratize the Port’s Concession Agreement, saying that it is not supposed to be something to be hidden close to the chest.
He maintained that the Dockworkers should be made to understand the content to enable them, more effectively key into it, same as the Freight forwarders, the Shippers amongst other relevant key stakeholders to enable them also, more prudently key into it.
He however frowned on the way the International Maritime Organisation IMO is currently treating Nigeria, emphasizing that the country, following what the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA and the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron are doing.
He described the Nigerian Maritime Academy, Oron as a world-class institution, noting that some countries were already sending their cadets to Oron, to be trained.
Consequently, he inferred that with the yeoman’s efforts of NIMASA, which has successfully subdued piracy beyond the waters of the country, Nigeria has no reason, begging to be in IMO’s Category ‘C’.
