A maritime
expert, Chief Kunle Folarin on Thursday urged the Federal Government to develop
more river ports to open up the potential of the maritime sector.
Folarin, who is
the Chairman, Port Consultative Council (PCC), made the plea in an interview in
Lagos.
He said the river
ports would create more business opportunities as well as helped to decongest
the existing seaports.
ports would create more business opportunities as well as helped to decongest
the existing seaports.
Inland ports or
river ports are ports that are located on rivers and do not handle deep draft
ship traffic
river ports are ports that are located on rivers and do not handle deep draft
ship traffic
Folarin gave an
assurance that many maritime businesses would also spring up along the coastal
areas where the rivers ports would be developed.
assurance that many maritime businesses would also spring up along the coastal
areas where the rivers ports would be developed.
“Development of
more river ports to support inland waterways is still on the drawing board, but
it is important to take it up now.
more river ports to support inland waterways is still on the drawing board, but
it is important to take it up now.
“The
inauguration of ICDs (Inland Container Depots) to free the ports of congestion
and open up cargo delivery inland is also very important for immediate
attention.
inauguration of ICDs (Inland Container Depots) to free the ports of congestion
and open up cargo delivery inland is also very important for immediate
attention.
“We have a lot
of maritime potential here and there which we are looking forward to; though
they didn’t happen in 2014, hopefully, they will come up in 2015, ” he said.
of maritime potential here and there which we are looking forward to; though
they didn’t happen in 2014, hopefully, they will come up in 2015, ” he said.
Folarin also
commended efforts made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) in training seafarers.
commended efforts made by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety
Agency (NIMASA) in training seafarers.
He said it was
also important to train more people in marine insurance and nautical surveying.
also important to train more people in marine insurance and nautical surveying.
“NIMASA is doing
its best to ensure that manpower development as far as seafaring is concerned,
is developed.
its best to ensure that manpower development as far as seafaring is concerned,
is developed.
“It (NIMASA) has
also contributed in building a few maritime schools and of course, proposed a
university; and assisting some of the existing universities in developing
maritime-related courses and departments.
also contributed in building a few maritime schools and of course, proposed a
university; and assisting some of the existing universities in developing
maritime-related courses and departments.
“We, however,
have to start looking at the overall needs in terms of manpower.
have to start looking at the overall needs in terms of manpower.
“We need to
develop people to have the capacity as nautical surveyors and others to handle
marine insurance properly, ‘’ he said.
develop people to have the capacity as nautical surveyors and others to handle
marine insurance properly, ‘’ he said.
