Nigeria lost economic, human capital opportunities to demise of NNSL – Obaseki

Governor of Edo State: Godwin Obaseki. Photo credit- The Cable

With the demise of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) in the 90s, Nigeria lost and had continued to forfeit several economic and human capital development opportunities that would have come with the existence of national fleet, Godwin Obaseki, the Governor of Edo State, has said.

Speaking in Onne at the weekend, during the official christening of the latest addition to the Nigerian ‘fleet’, the MV OSANYAMO, a newly built ship owned by the STARZS Group and built by the Damen Shipyard, Obaseki lamented that the nation’s shipping business worth trillions of naira, is largely dominated by foreign ship owners.

Expressing worries by the role finance play in shipping development, the Governor however called on financial institutions in the country to synergize towards finding ways to building capacity among ship owners in order to boost employment opportunities and improve the citizens’ present economic conditions.

“I feel really privileged that I am performing for the first time in my life, the christening, dedication and commissioning of a vessel, I have never done it before,” he said, adding that the shipping terrain in Nigeria, is not only “scary” but also, seriously dominated by foreign operators.

Continuing, the Governor said: “The Nigeria’s maritime industry, in spite of the supports it had received with the enactment of the Cabotage Law, and the Local Content Law, has continued to be dominated by foreign companies.

This, according to him, was apart from the brief time when Nigeria had the NNSL which offered Nigerians in the maritime industry sea time opportunities, and as a country, we lost the opportunity to build the human capacity as well as the resources to go ahead to dominate.

He commended the efforts of indigenous shipping firms such as STARZS Group and its chairman, Greg Ogbeifun for the dedication, commitment and resourcefulness particularly in mobilising local funds, institutional supports and utilising same to lift Nigeria’s flag as well as boost the employment opportunities for other Nigerians.

Obaseki grieved that the country’s weak economic position had seriously affected not only the nation’s balance of trade, but the well-being and the future of the youths.

He enjoined the financial sector, the Local Content Board and other institutional bodies to synergise, create more opportunities and ensure a more assured future for Nigerians, particularly in the maritime sector, in the immediate future.