Chief Kunle Folarin, Chairman, Port Consultative
Council (PCC) says building human capacity is critical in addressing the
problems facing the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Council (PCC) says building human capacity is critical in addressing the
problems facing the development of Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Folarin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos
that investors would be encouraged to establish businesses in the various
sub-sectors of the maritime industry with the available manpower.
that investors would be encouraged to establish businesses in the various
sub-sectors of the maritime industry with the available manpower.
He added that thousands of jobs would be created in
addition to the transfer of skills.
addition to the transfer of skills.
“Let us look at issue of capacity building, so that
an investor will come here and say, `I have local skilled manpower to work in
my shipyard if I install a shipyard here’’.
an investor will come here and say, `I have local skilled manpower to work in
my shipyard if I install a shipyard here’’.
“Shipyard is a must, but you need the manpower,
skilled in that area to work there.
skilled in that area to work there.
“Investor will gain; will start building local
crafts; not only the big mega carriers or VLCC carrier or container
vessels or RORO vessels.
crafts; not only the big mega carriers or VLCC carrier or container
vessels or RORO vessels.
“We can start building the medium tankers that can
ferry our petroleum products; 10,000 dead weight vessels.
ferry our petroleum products; 10,000 dead weight vessels.
“We can build tug boats in Nigeria; we can build
pilot boats in Nigeria; and that will employ not less than 3,000 to 4,000
people, and the transfer of skills will also be an addition in that
endeavour.
pilot boats in Nigeria; and that will employ not less than 3,000 to 4,000
people, and the transfer of skills will also be an addition in that
endeavour.
“That is one thing investors should be looking at in
Nigeria,’’ Folarin said.
Nigeria,’’ Folarin said.
Folarin said investors could also look at the master
plan of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and consider the development of
Greenfields, new ports and increasing capacity of existing ports.
plan of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and consider the development of
Greenfields, new ports and increasing capacity of existing ports.
He said the port access roads development and other
infrastructure within the port complexes would attract the right expertise in
creating a maritime city where ships could come to perform various operations.
infrastructure within the port complexes would attract the right expertise in
creating a maritime city where ships could come to perform various operations.
