How Nigerians Without Ships Parade Themselves as Shipowners, by Amaechi
AMaechi
By Our Reporter
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, weekend hit hard Nigerians into shipping business, saying many of them who don’t have ships still parade themselves as shipowners.
Amaechi spoke during the flag-off ceremony of wreck removal exercise on the nation’s territorial waters by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
The Minister said he was discouraged on discovering the situation after assuming office, adding that this forced him to focus more on railways.
He lamented that there were many things wrong in the maritime industry, adding that there were people making money from illegalities who would not want success in the industry.
Amaechi said he was the only Minister who has been able to fight such battle without being removed.
Amaechi also said that as far as he is concerned the Deep Blue project was not working.
While noting that piracy has reduced, a lot of crime in the oil sector has continued.
He was quoted saying, “It is only in the Nigerian maritime sector that you have ship owners that don’t have ships. So, if I am dealing with ship owners that don’t have ships, what do I do? I move to the railway where they are serious and business-minded.
“When I came into government, my focus was on the maritime industry. The enthusiasm and passion were there. I even took you to Singapore to get foreign investors that would give us 40% while the other 60% would be ours. We got an investor and I instructed my people to go and arrange their 60%. Till today, they are still arranging.
“Basically, our maritime sector has a lot of problems. First, there are people who make money from illegalities in the industry. Those people would never allow you to succeed. I am the first Minister that has fought their battle without being removed. It is a sector that if you put your head in it, they would chop it off.
“I’ll sit with the stakeholders again. Mind you, I’ve met with them once. Now, let’s go to the Deep Blue project. Do you think it is working? No! Piracy has reduced but crime in the oil sector still continues. They are still making their illegal money.”
On the wreck removal, the Minister said this will help in safe navigation by vessels.
He also said the exercise will lead to new investments in the industry.
According to him, the exercise will also assist the federal government in its “economic diversification drive and enhance Nigeria’s standing within the global maritime community”
The Director-General, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, had in his opening speech said that the wreck removal was a way of restoring confidence in the nation’s waters as free from obstacles and safe for vessels calling in Nigeria.
According to him, the wrecks have been Inhibiting the operations of shipping companies, adding that most of them “avoid operating or investing in areas where navigational hazards are identified due to high insurance premium charges.”
Jamoh also said the wreck removal will reduce the costs of insurance, survey and charting.
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