…As Shippers tell Fed Govt: pay attention to port infrastructure***
Eminent Nigerians and ethnic national groups yesterday insisted on restructuring of the federation.
They expressed this opinion in Lagos at a programme ‘Handshake Across Nigeria’ summit organised by Nzuko Umunna in partnership with The Core Federalists .The theme of the sunmmit is ‘Nigeria Beyond Oil.’
Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu spoke on a similar note.
Prof. Soyinka, the keynote speaker, said: “We want the government to understand that they are part of the community and have been given a mission of carrying out the will of the people. When we talk about governance, we are talking about an instrument for the execution of the people’s policy. Insecurity has reached a certain level that even when we bring experts in, they wonder what exactly they have come to do. “One way of stopping the bloodbath is to reconfigure the nation. States must be given maximum control over their resources.
“Those insisting on restructuring do so because they know that there is something wrong with the state of Nigeria. Many times, Nigerians have come together to proffer solutions and the way forward for the country, but after spending so much time and effort, nothing ever comes out of it. The recommendations are left to gather dust. How much longer shall we continue like this?”
Ohaneze leader John Nwodo said “those campaigning against restructuring in Nigeria have painted an unfortunate and untrue picture that those of us in support of restructuring are doing so in order to deny the northern states who have not yet any proven oil reserves of the ability to survive. This is unfortunate. The new model we propose for Nigeria recognizes that revenue in the world today is promoted by two main sources namely, human capital development leveraging on technology to drive the critical sectors of the economy and agriculture.
“Nigeria beyond oil must contemplate the implementation of legislative independence to the federating units, sovereignty of mineral and oil resources to the federating units, a painstaking resolve to support all electoral processes and candidates that would bring about this change.”
Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo criticised President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osibajo for singing discordant tunes on restructuring.
In the meantime, the Shippers’ Association of Lagos State (SALS) has urged the Federal Government to pay more attention to port infrastructure.
The government, the group said, should position the ports to meet international best practices.
Its President, Mr Jonathan Nicol, gave the charge in a chat with The Nation.
He called for the resuscitation of the informal sector of cargo management.
According to him, the informal sector will contribute about 45 per cent of the total cargo throughput (imports and exports).
He said there was need to rebuild dead infrastructure at the ports to enable individuals in the sector to assist in nation-building.
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers Council, Mr Hassan Bello, advised members of the group to export, especially non-oil items.
Bello said so far, 27 shippers associations have been established across the country. He said these associations are formidable bodies for cargo protection.
“Shippers should endeavour to channel efforts into export-ation of value-adding non-oil exports to generate revenue.
“The Council is committed to protecting the cargo interest of Nigeria and also enjoins you to remain compliant with both national and international rules guiding global trade practices.
“The SALS have been very active. I must commend them for their doggedness and laudable ideas and I hope they continue,” Bello said.
Also, a maritime lawyer, Mr Doipo Alaka, said there was the need for operators to embrace maritime arbitration to resolve issues which emanated from their business.
He said arbitrators had been in existence for more than 10 years, adding that the arbitrators had assisted several port operators to solve maritime disputes.
The Nation
