A maritime consultant, Dr Alex Nwangwu, has urged the
Federal Government and stakeholders in the maritime industry to adopt a public
private partnership model to address challenges of indigenous shipping
development.
Federal Government and stakeholders in the maritime industry to adopt a public
private partnership model to address challenges of indigenous shipping
development.
Nwangwu said
that it was inadvisable for government to solely own a shipping line again, bearing the past experience of mismanagement.
that it was inadvisable for government to solely own a shipping line again, bearing the past experience of mismanagement.
“Considering how things have dwindled from when we
were in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, government should not establish
a shipping line.
were in the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, government should not establish
a shipping line.
“The national carrier had in its fleet, 30 ships, but
all that is gone today, which shows that such business cannot be left as
government-owned.
all that is gone today, which shows that such business cannot be left as
government-owned.
“The best model is government’s partnership with
stakeholders in the private sector to develop indigenous shipping, and it is on
this note that the business can be run profitably,” Nwangwu said.
stakeholders in the private sector to develop indigenous shipping, and it is on
this note that the business can be run profitably,” Nwangwu said.
According to him, many of the vessels operating in
Nigeria are foreign-owned and mostly
manned by Indian nationals, leaving a lot of trained Nigerians without jobs.
Nigeria are foreign-owned and mostly
manned by Indian nationals, leaving a lot of trained Nigerians without jobs.
“Today, most of the vessels operating in Nigeria are
owned by foreigners and manned by Indian nationals, so, the locals have no jobs
to do.”
owned by foreigners and manned by Indian nationals, so, the locals have no jobs
to do.”
Nwangwu said that the cabotage law which was meant to
favour Nigerians in the local shipping operations had not been totally
favourable as the shipyard assignment of technology transfer had not
worked as proposed.
favour Nigerians in the local shipping operations had not been totally
favourable as the shipyard assignment of technology transfer had not
worked as proposed.
“We have no ships, but our cabotage law says the ships
must be indigenously- owned, and the objective of the Nigerian shipyard was to
transfer technology, but today, very few Nigerians work there.
must be indigenously- owned, and the objective of the Nigerian shipyard was to
transfer technology, but today, very few Nigerians work there.
