‘80% of Nigeria’s maritime resources yet to be tapped’

In a message at the opening of the just-concluded Lagos Maritime Expo (NIMAREX), Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former of head state, suggested a roadmap on how to tap the maritime potential of the nation, saying the roadmap would transform Nigerian ports to be the hub of the West Africa sub-region.

The former head of state, who was represented by Samuel Afolayan, a retired vice admiral, said Nigeria had over 400 nautical miles and large human resources, and urged Nigerians to take advantage of the maritime potential, saying that 80 percent of the nation’s maritime resources had yet to be tapped.

Some exhibitors have suggested that the Federal Government should improve on port infrastructure to boost maritime trade. The operators made the suggestion in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria as maritime activities closed weekend in Lagos.

An exhibitor, Moses Macaulay, a shipping operator working with RANGK Limited, urged the Federal Government to improve on port infrastructure, saying “the port infrastructure we have is not adequate but the Federal Government is trying. Government should try and extend the type of modern port facilities in Onne port to other ports, including Lagos ports.’’

Dike Osita, head, chartering, Destiny Maritime and Shipping Limited, expressed concern about the constant gridlock in Apapa and Tin-Can ports access roads, saying the perennial gridlock along the Lagos ports access roads had affected the company’s income.

He, however, urged the Federal Government to invest in rail transportation to boost inter-modal transportation of goods and to also decongest the access roads to the ports.

Juliet Orji, marketing/public relations officer, West Atlantic Shipyard (WAS), said full participation by stakeholders in future maritime expos would create room for a full grasp of activities in the industry.

“Presently, Nigeria has not tapped the opportunities in the maritime sector and by the time we are all involved in the expo, it will solve the employment problem in the country,’’ Orji said.

Ayorinde Adedoyin, chairman, planning committee of NIMAREX, said the 2015 edition of the expo was targeted at throwing up solutions toward enhancing the economic fortunes of the nation, as “the deliberation will be in the light of the international economic situation which has adversely affected Nigeria’s monolithic economy primed on crude.’’