A mariner, Capt. Adewale Ishola, on Monday urged the Federal Government to re-establish the national shipping line for security reasons.
Ishola made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos.
NAN reports that the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) was liquidated in 1995 and its more than 20 vessels sold.
“We need a shipping line for the purpose of our national security.
“In times of war, because when we were in NNSL, we had to carry our soldiers to Lebanon, to Congo, for ECOMOG.
“Even when I left NNSL; I was in a private shipping company; we also carried fuel to ECOMOG; I was in Liberia, I was in Sierra Leone.
“You are going to pay a lot to hire foreign vessels to do your job for you.
“Also, there is no secrecy about what you have as your security equipment; which means
they can sabotage it.
they can sabotage it.
“So, it is good to have a national carrier. it is for our national pride too.
“It will also help us to our flag around the whole world.“
The master mariner suggested that the pursuit of a national carrier should be public-private -driven initiative, where government should provide the enabling environment and funding, while professionals manage the
system.
system.
