The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Malam Habib Abdullahi, said the maritime industry could fetch huge revenue for the nation as a viable alternative to oil.
Abdullahi stated this while receiving the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in his office in Lagos as one of the highpoints of maritime activities during the week.
“At this critical time, whereby we are looking for other sources of revenue, we feel that the maritime sector is very important as an alternative to oil.
“We, therefore, must come up with something to make sure that export promotion is being highlighted because we want our ports not only to be sources of imports but also a gateway to the economy.
“So that at least, that will assist in diversifying economic activities in the country, ‘’ Abdullahi said.
He said that the NPA was ready to partner with NAN in publicising ports’ activities in the country.
“As a government organ, we want our activities to be publicised, not only in Nigeria but globally and I know that it is your responsibility to
do that.
“Of course, it is your responsibility; it is mutual benefit; we give you the information; you promote us and it helps you to do your job
as well.
The NAN managing director commended his NPA counterpart for his commitment toward making the nation’s port the hub of the sub-region.
`I can see. we came around, we saw so many things going on here (NPA). A kind of renewal going on here and we must commend you for all the efforts you are making.
“We also take note of what is also happening at our ports; and all the efforts being made by you to make sure that you get things right.
“In terms of making our ports a hub for the West Africa, in the past, we have been losing ships to Cotonou and people preferred to go there and clear their goods.
“Now, goods are being cleared from the Lagos Ports Complex, Tin-Can Island and other Nigerian ports.
“I must commend you to continue to put in more efforts for Nigerian businessmen, importers and even exporters to use our ports as the
primary ports for either exports or imports,“ Onanuga said.
In the week under review, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, said that NAN was ready for its next level of global acclaim.
Peterside, who also received the NAN boss at the head office of NIMASA in Lagos, commended his track record.
“If you know the track record of Bayo Onanuga, there will be no doubt that NAN is ready for her next level of global acclaim.
“In NIMASA, unfortunately we have some reputation issues. These reputation issues is not about people in NIMASA, is about few things that went wrong in the recent past.
“There is nothing wrong with the NIMASA brand; there is nothing wrong with the people in NIMASA, there is nothing wrong with the NIMASA’s processes.
“There may have been a few abuses in the past but I believe that the security agencies with the anti-graft agencies are handling that so we should allow that be,’’ the director -general said.
According to him, going forward, our mandate is to reposition NIMASA, reform and restructure NIMASA and that is where you come in.
“We cannot think of a better tool if you are going to reform a system than communication. The tool of communication promotes understanding.
“The tool of communication promotes the sharing of vision, mission. That tool is a potent tool and NAN is a critical instrument in deploying communication to get understanding and cooperation of the people.
“That is where partnership with NIMASA becomes expedient and germane to the transformation and change we are championing in NIMASA.
“NAN tells our story to the rest of the world. No other media organisation is better position to tell our story than the the News Agency of Nigeria, because your footprints are virtually in every local government in the country.
“Now, we have a leadership in NAN that we can trust and a leadership we are sure will deliver result,’’ Peterside said.
In his response, the NAN managing director said that the agency had over 500 reporters, adding that no newspaper had that population, because they could not afford the expenses of having reporters all over Nigeria.
Onanuga said that the ability of the agency to cover the entire country was at a huge cost.
He said that he was very positive that Peterside, as the helmsman of NIMASA, would turn the agency positively around.
Also during the week, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr Hassan Bello, said the council was the economic regulator and that meant the council had to ensure that the nation’s ports are competitive.
Bello stated this while receiving the managing director of NAN in his office.
According to him, we should never forget that we are in competition with other ports in the region.
“We want to make our ports efficient and we have recently launched,
together with so many organisations, the Ports Service Support Portal
(PSSP).
“ Which is a complain portal online where you can send or register
and even monitor your compliant in the industry.
“We have solved many problems of complaints and we have been having
cooperation from all stakeholders.
“The Vice President (Yemi Osinbajo) launched this portal about four days back in Abuja, where we have all the people operating in the
ports,’’ Bello said.
He said that the revival of the national maritime carrier was key to the nation’s economic development.
Bello was recently appointed the Chairman, Implementation Committee on National Maritime Carrier.
The Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) was liquidated in 1995 and all the 24 ships sold.
“We cannot pretend to be a maritime nation without a flagship. We are trading all over the world as far as Asia but this is the time for us to have our own ships.
“Is going to be private sector -led. You have to look at all the earnings that will come from this.
“If we have ships, the proceeds will be reflected in our earnings,’’ the executive secretary said.
According to him, we only have the cargoes, we do not have the ships and with ships, we will be able to control our economy.
“We want full automation of our ports and we want trade facilitation, single window, cargo tracking note and we want to restore the pride of Nigeria as far as shipping is concerned.
’’We will work toward making Nigeria the hub of the sub-region in shipping,’’ the executive secretary said.
He congratulated Onanuga on his appointment, saying that he had followed his career since he was with the African Concord, the Guardian and loved his style of writing.
The NAN managing director congratulated the Shippers Council’s boss on his appointment as the Chairman, Implementation Committee on National Maritime Carrier.
Onanuga said that under the leadership of the executive secretary, the nation would witness a new national carrier.
The managing director of NAN commended the efforts being put in place by the council in protecting the interest of shippers.
“Aside from oil and gas, the maritime sector is the most important,’’ he said.
Onanuga said that NAN would partner with the Shippers’ Council to educate the media on the economic importance of the maritime sector.
He commended the council for organising the Annual Maritime Seminar
for Judges which would enable judges to learn more about maritime
laws.
Bello said that such training should be extended to the media to understand what maritime business “is all about’’.
