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| MD Talia Watercrafts, Mr Ndukwe Azunna |
A
boat designer, Mr Ndukwe Azunna, has urged Nigerians to invest more in water
transportation to ease the pressure of moving people, goods and services on the
road, to boost economic activities.
boat designer, Mr Ndukwe Azunna, has urged Nigerians to invest more in water
transportation to ease the pressure of moving people, goods and services on the
road, to boost economic activities.
Azunna,
the Managing Director, Talia Watercrafts made the call in an interview with the
newsmen on Monday in Lagos.
the Managing Director, Talia Watercrafts made the call in an interview with the
newsmen on Monday in Lagos.
He
said that if government at all levels and private investors invested in the
industry, it would help to harness fully the opportunities available in using
modern boats to support the transportation system.
said that if government at all levels and private investors invested in the
industry, it would help to harness fully the opportunities available in using
modern boats to support the transportation system.
Azunna
said that such initiative would boost economic activities along the coastal
areas, create more jobs through their operations and ease the pressure on the
roads.
said that such initiative would boost economic activities along the coastal
areas, create more jobs through their operations and ease the pressure on the
roads.
He
said investments in modern boats, which could be done locally by supporting
professional boat designers, would encourage more people to travel and move
their goods through water transportation.
said investments in modern boats, which could be done locally by supporting
professional boat designers, would encourage more people to travel and move
their goods through water transportation.
“We have a lot of small groups building boats,
but they basically just use the mold of the ones that have been made since
early times when boat building started.
but they basically just use the mold of the ones that have been made since
early times when boat building started.
“However, the vast coastal areas of Nigeria
can be fully utilised to boost economic activities if the boats are modern and
more people are encouraged to travel and move their goods by these ferries.
can be fully utilised to boost economic activities if the boats are modern and
more people are encouraged to travel and move their goods by these ferries.
“The industry turn-around will happen if the
boat-designing sector gets support to design and have the artisans build them
locally.
boat-designing sector gets support to design and have the artisans build them
locally.
“It
is just about vision to grow the sector especially as the free trade zones are
coming up,” he said.
is just about vision to grow the sector especially as the free trade zones are
coming up,” he said.
Azunna
said it was sad that financial institutions could not support the sector,
noting that many banks lacked the requisite understanding of the workings of
the sector.
said it was sad that financial institutions could not support the sector,
noting that many banks lacked the requisite understanding of the workings of
the sector.
“Banks are not familiar with the sector, so, the
loans are just not given, except if you can prove that you will make money from
the business immediately.
loans are just not given, except if you can prove that you will make money from
the business immediately.
“It means you must have started the business
already and start making profits that is when you can convince the bank to
assist.
already and start making profits that is when you can convince the bank to
assist.
“They
need to know that Nigeria’s transport sector is wide and most times the roads
have been over stretched, but the ferry system can do a lot more with
modern-designed boats,” he said.
need to know that Nigeria’s transport sector is wide and most times the roads
have been over stretched, but the ferry system can do a lot more with
modern-designed boats,” he said.
On
safety, the boat designer said that modern boats like the catamaran were more
stable since they had double hauls.
safety, the boat designer said that modern boats like the catamaran were more
stable since they had double hauls.
