A Master Mariner, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, has said that
more jobs could be created if indigenous ship owners acquire more ships and
engage in transportation of oil.
more jobs could be created if indigenous ship owners acquire more ships and
engage in transportation of oil.
Iheanacho, who is the Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd., stated this in an
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said Nigeria’s vast trading network in oil was
improving other economies, considering the exportation of crude oil and
importation of refined petroleum products, while indigenous ship owners were
not involved.
improving other economies, considering the exportation of crude oil and
importation of refined petroleum products, while indigenous ship owners were
not involved.
“Nigeria suffers from a lot of unemployment and one
of the areas in which we can actually achieve fuller employment would be if we
have ships and we have Nigerians who would work there.
of the areas in which we can actually achieve fuller employment would be if we
have ships and we have Nigerians who would work there.
“Nigeria has a vast international trading network
where we export oil and they are bringing in finished products.
where we export oil and they are bringing in finished products.
“But look at the basis upon which that trade is
carried on currently; we export oil on an F.O.B. basis. What it means is that
we give up the right to carry that oil.
carried on currently; we export oil on an F.O.B. basis. What it means is that
we give up the right to carry that oil.
“The right to carry that oil creates jobs and profits
for those who own the ships and for those who work on board those ships.
for those who own the ships and for those who work on board those ships.
“Then, when those oil are taken and taken to the
refinery, value is added to it through refining and that refining process
creates jobs in those economies for those who are involved in that business.
refinery, value is added to it through refining and that refining process
creates jobs in those economies for those who are involved in that business.
“And when the finished product is brought back, it
creates jobs again for those who work on board the ships that bring the
products here.
creates jobs again for those who work on board the ships that bring the
products here.
“Why then are we discounting all these value
opportunities?” Iheanacho asked.
opportunities?” Iheanacho asked.
According to Iheanacho, the ideal situation would have
been to add value to the oil by refining it locally, thereby creating room for
trading in refined oil.
been to add value to the oil by refining it locally, thereby creating room for
trading in refined oil.
He said Nigeria must begin to do more in terms of
local production and increasing capacity development to safeguard the economy.
local production and increasing capacity development to safeguard the economy.
