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SIFAX: Infrastructural deficit, bane of maritime industry growth – Afolabi

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  • As Don tells Gov’t: Adopt Measures To Grow Economy

The SIFAX Group Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi has identified the currently huge infrastructural deficit as a major factor seriously impeding the Nigerian maritime sector from fulfilling its potentials and called on the Federal Government to decisively address it.

“Our sector cannot continue to reel under the burden of infrastructural decay if we want to contribute meaningfully to the economy and fulfill the industry’s potentials”, Dr Afolabi stated, highlighting them as the deplorable access roads, faulty cargo scanners, non-existent rail system, and the non-functional truck bay, among others, which seemingly have conspired to negatively impact the service delivery efficiency and overall maritime sector impact.

Addressing participants at the second edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference held on Friday, August 4, 2017 at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos.

He indicated that a key focus of the conference is to promote the culture of intellectual discourse in the country’s maritime industry, particularly an intellectual engagement which will be solution-oriented.

L-R: Mrs Funke Agbor (SAN), Senior Partner, ACAS-Law; Bola Ashiru, Strategy and Operations Lead‎, Deloitte West Africa; Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, Group Executive Vice Chairman, SIFAX Group; Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, Chairman of the Occasion; Inam Wilson, Partner, Templars Law; Princess Vicky Haastrup, Executive Vice Chairman, ENL Consortium Limited and Chairman, Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria at the 2nd edition of the 2017 Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference held at UNILAG sponsored by SIFAX Group.

“We seek to address topical issues that are germane to the prosperity of the maritime sector as well as all its stakeholders, which include the client, agents, investors, regulators, workers and the community, among others.

“According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations affiliate responsible for regulating the global maritime industry, over 90% of the world’s trade is transported by sea and it is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move en masse goods and raw materials around the world.

“The sector also has a key role to play in the alleviation of extreme poverty and hunger as it already provides an important source of income and employment for many developing countries, such as the supply of seagoing personnel and ship recycling, ship owning and operating, shipbuilding and repair and port services, among others.

Mallam D. Bulangu, former GM Sifax (1st left), Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, Chairman of the Occasion (1st right) and other distinguished participants

“As highlighted above, the maritime industry is strategic to any maritime nation in terms of its contribution to its economic growth and development” he posited further.

He however regretted that in Nigeria, the contribution of the sector to the country’s GDP is still very low when juxtaposed with its huge potentials and opportunities, and commended the commitment of the Federal Government to reforms in the maritime industry, especially in respect of the Executive Order signed some months back by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

“It is an acknowledgement of the fact that things must be done differently. However, infrastructural deficit would negate the good intentions of the government if this problem is not strategically and urgently addressed.

WISTA Chieftain, Barr. Jean Chiazor Anishere at the event.

“Experts from diverse, but relevant backgrounds – maritime, law, academics, business, consultancy etc, have been assembled to do justice to the topic. Many of them I know personally and can attest to their rigour, scholarship and genuine commitment to improvement in the sector. To those I have not met, I have been privileged to read their resumes. To say they are intimidating is an understatement. I am convinced that we would end this conference with useful insights that will translate to a tangible solution.

“Let me thank the president, officers and members of the Maritime Forum, who have shown through this conference that young people can act as catalysts for change if they put their minds to it. I have always believed in the energy and dynamism of the youth and it’s not surprising that they are showing us that they are ready to lead in the future”, he concluded, saying how refreshing and humbling, it was for him, to see his little efforts at stimulating growth in the maritime industry, being recognized by his  alma mater, the UNILAG and by its crop of young but highly intelligent students who had shown keen interest in the industry.

In the meantime, a financial expert, Prof. Sheriffdeen Tella, has observed a pronounced dysfunctioning manufacturing sector where growth is stunted as the demand for goods and services far outstripped supply; and urged the Federal Government to adopt urgent corrective measures.

The Senior Economist at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, made the call on Sunday in Lagos while reacting to the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data for the month of July.

Highlighting the need to fast-track the growth of the manufacturing sector through the provision of infrastructure and the provision of credit, Tella noted that the data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) only showed that the PMI stood at 54.1 per cent in July 2017, indicating marginal expansion in the manufacturing sector for the fourth consecutive month.

He therefore urged the managers of the economy to develop a robust research that would show improvement in the economy.

“I think that the situation has not changed. There is need for the managers to look at the economy holistically.

“There is need for the research component to give us a true reflection of the economy,’’ Tella said, pointing out that the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to retain the lending rate at 14 per cent cannot stimulate the economy since the cost of borrowing is too high.

The financial expert noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) also said that the growth of the nation’s economy was slow, below expectation.

The don argued that no meaningful improvement could take place in an economy with a huge infrastructure deficit, a composite PMI above 50 points indicates that the manufacturing/non-manufacturing economy is generally expanding.

Fifty points indicates no change and below 50 points indicates that it is generally contracting. Below are the PMI for the months of March to July.

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NAMTOP: LASTMA Urges Maritime Truck Drivers To Tackle Breakdowns

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More Trouble for Sanwo-Olu: Election Tribunal orders substituted service over Petition

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has urged the Nexus Association of Maritime Truck Operators (NAMTOP) to acquire private tow trucks to tackle breakdowns swiftly.

The General Manager, LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this when NAMTOP officials paid the agency’s management a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Lagos.

Bakare-Oki said the aim was to foster synergy and cooperation between the two agencies.

The LASTMA GM, represented by the Director of Logistics and Engineering, Mr Jubril Oshodi, assured the association of a harmonious relationship.

“This will enable the association to liaise with all zonal heads to ensure swift evacuation of trucks whenever breakdowns occur,” he said.

The LASTMA boss said his tenure would centre on repositioning and reorganising the agency for professional service delivery to the motoring public with empathy.

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Oyetola Inaugurates 4.8km Road, Mooring Boats At Onne

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…Says the road symbolizes the Ministry’s commitment to make the port more viable

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola on Tuesday, inaugurated a 4.8km road “D” project and six mooring boats at the Onne Port Complex, Port Harcourt, stressing that the road, constructed by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), was a demonstration of the ministry’s commitment to make the port more viable.

He said that the project was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to maximize opportunities within the maritime sector.

”This is part of the measures we are taking to enhance the ease of doing business in Onne Port

”The ministry is committed to leverage Nigeria’s maritime resources under the directives of the president,” he said.

The minister said that the mooring boats would enhance boat safety and general security within the maritime space.

Oyetola said that the Federal Government was committed towards deepening the efficiencies and full capacity utilisation of the ports in the eastern axis.

‘We are now poised more than ever to give the NPA all the support to address factors responsible for the under-utilisation of these national assets,” he said.

The minister stated that by providing port infrastructure, investor confidence would be deepened for more patronage of the eastern ports.

”I was delighted to learn that the Onne and Calabar Port complexes have met the requirements of the International Organisation for Standardisation and are now certified.

Bello-Koko Lauds MWUN for Ensuring NPA Staff's Salary Increase

The NPA Managing Director, Muhammed Bello-Koko

”This shows they we are doing something right but we cannot rest on this determination until all other ports are certified.

”I have been briefed on the growth in numbers especially for exports emanating from Onne Port Complex, and I am impressed.

”I am poised to provide the facilitation and advocacy required to grow the vessel traffic to this important nucleus of growth,” he said.

Oyetola stated that more economic growth would be achieved if more investments were done in port infrastructure.

The minister commended the management of NPA for being prudent with the application of resources that financed the project.

Oyetola reiterated his commitment to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that would enable continuous improvement in the performance of the ports.

In his speech, the Managing Director, NPA, Mohammed BelIo-Koko, thanked the minister for his support to the authority.

He said that the road and mooring-boat projects could only be completed because of the support from the ministry.

Bello-Koko said that the completion of the Road “D” project which linked Berths 9, 10, 11 and 12 at Federal Ocean Terminal would help to grow new business opportunities and increase revenue for the nation.

”This road stretches over a total of 4.8km, covering two container terminals. It will cater for no fewer than 1,000 trucks daily.

”This is a testimony that as an authority, we are repositioning for growth, competitiveness and, future-readiness.

”The road has a 250mm thickness concrete reinforcement provided for a median and side drain with high mast tower Lighting of dual carriageway.

”We are aware that a good road infrastructure requires sound marine craft and equipment, so we added six modern mooring boats to enhance habour operations efficiency,” he said.

Bello-Koko solicited the ministry’s support for concrete fencing of the stretch of land in the port to guard against any unauthorised access.

”This will also enhance the security of the investments that will spring up with the opening of this road.

The managing director commended the concessionaires for their huge investments, describing it as indicative of their confidence in the system.

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Environmental Stewardship: Maritime Experts Appraise Industry, Deep Blue Project

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…As OAF Boss, Olaitan Williams harps on the need to further protect the Planet 

She has a vision: refocusing the youths, particularly the Nigerian girl into the nation’s maritime industry. Her modus operandi is simple: encouraging, motivating and redirecting every pupil and student’s interest towards productive pursuits in marine terrain.

She is probably today, Nigeria’s most consistent and committed promoter of youths’ education in the marine and blue economy.

The Chief Executive Officer of Ocean Ambassadors Foundation OAF, Mrs. Violet Olaitan Williams does not need much introduction in terms of her relevance and mindset for creating the desired conditions for mental and attitudinal development of the Nigerian child, particularly in Lagos State.

Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa

Several times, she has ‘dragged’ students of several secondary schools in Lagos, for a day-out at Sea. 

OAF, redirecting students’ interest into the maritime terrain, at an early age…

During such periods, the lucky beneficiaries were sufficiently exposed, to jobs in the marine and blue economy sector; as well as the vital courses to pursue, in order to realise such dreams.

Only recently, she selflessly embarked on a costly documentary to meaningfully draw attention to EHINGBETI, the nucleus of the Lagos relevance as Nigeria’s most celebrated litoral state, stressing the need to regenerate Nigeria, from the symbolic lessons of its origin.

Though finally depleted and sapped at the end of the costly project, Olaitan Williams remained undaunted in her commitment to the promotion of a cause she truly believed in.

It is like, having lived her childhood days beside the shores of Lagos, she had prudently identified areas she is convinced, early and right exposures of the youths, could transform many of them, tomorrow, into job creators.

Only last week, the OAF Boss again assembled some experts to a ‘Blue Talents Career Talk’ in Lagos, to educate, impact and, enlighten students of several secondary schools, on the importance of the Ocean, the Marine and the Blue economy; the current Government’s efforts at harnessing it’s economic endowment, as well as the need to more properly, protect it.

Students learn better, by seeing it as it is…

Speaking at the occasion, a top naval officer, Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa stressed the need for maritime industry Stakeholders to commend the Federal Government for initiating the Integrated National Security and Waterways Infrastructure, otherwise known as ‘the Deep Blue Project’. 

Lieutenant Commodore A.A Makinwa of the Nigerian Navy who made the call at the Blue Talents Career Talk in Lagos said the Deep Blue Project is such that accommodates almost every maritime security architecture such as NIMASA, NPA, DSS and, even the Marine Police. 

The Ocean Ambassadors Foundation CEO, Violet Olaitan Williams

According to him, “it is whole of the nation’s business and not just limited to the Nigeria Army, Navy or Airforce alone”. 

He mentioned different security agencies, identified their relevance in the security and safety web; and lauded them for the safety of the communities.

In his remark, the Guest Speaker, Engr. Jamiu Badmos while admonishing maritime security personnel not to rest on their oars also said: “You play a lot of roles in the saving of lives of the people and that is why security and safety have links.

“In security, you protect the vessel from any external aggression and the people inside the vessel but in safety, you look more on the people inside the vessel and how to protect them” Badmos stressed. 

Earlier in her speech, Violet Olaitan Williams while welcoming participants at the well-attended event, stated that “by embracing a culture of Safety, Responsibility and Environmental stewardship, you can also ensure a brighter future for the planet and all who call it home!”. 

ALSO READ: BLUE Economy: Synergise With FME, Create Future for Girl Child, Informed Delegates urge Oyetola

The topic for this year’s Blue Talents Career Talk organized by Ocean Ambassadors Foundation was “An Overview of Safety and Security in the Maritime and Blue Economy” with a special focus on goals 3, 8, 14; and 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

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