The implementation of the Executive order on ease of doing business in the maritime sector recently signed by Acting President Yemi Osibajo may become an uphill task if government does not intervene to arrest the gradual but progressive infrastructural decay in the sector.
Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, the Executive Vice-Chairman, SIFAX Group, raised the alarm last week Friday at second edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference held at the Main Auditorium, University of Lagos.
Dr Afolabi, in his keynote address at the annual talk shop sponsored by the indigenous conglomerate and instituted to raise awareness and stimulate intellectual discourse on the happenings in the sector, declared to his audience that huge infrastructural deficit is a major factor seriously impeding the Nigerian maritime sector from fulfilling its potentials and called on the Federal Government to decisively address it.
“Our sector cannot continue to reel under the burden of infrastructural decay if we want to contribute meaningfully to the economy and fulfil the industry’s potentials”, Dr Afolabi stated, highlighting them as the deplorable access roads, faulty cargo scanners, non-existent rail system, and the non-functional truck bay, among others, which seemingly have conspired to negatively impact the service delivery efficiency and overall maritime sector impact.
He indicated that a key focus of the conference is to promote the culture of intellectual discourse in the country’s maritime industry, particularly an intellectual engagement which will be solution-oriented.
“We seek to address topical issues that are germane to the prosperity of the maritime sector as well as all its stakeholders, which include the client, agents, investors, regulators, workers and the community, among others.
“According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations affiliate responsible for regulating the global maritime industry, over 90% of the world’s trade is transported by sea and it is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move en masse goods and raw materials around the world.
“The sector also has a key role to play in the alleviation of extreme poverty and hunger as it already provides an important source of income and employment for many developing countries, such as the supply of seagoing personnel and ship recycling, ship owning and operating, shipbuilding and repair and port services, among others.
“As highlighted above, the maritime industry is strategic to any maritime nation in terms of its contribution to its economic growth and development” he posited further.
He however regretted that in Nigeria, the contribution of the sector to the country’s GDP is still very low when juxtaposed with its huge potentials and opportunities, and commended the commitment of the Federal Government to reforms in the maritime industry, especially in respect of the Executive Order signed some months back by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
“It is an acknowledgement of the fact that things must be done differently. However, infrastructural deficit would negate the good intentions of the government if this problem is not strategically and urgently addressed.
“Experts from diverse, but relevant backgrounds – maritime, law, academics, business, consultancy etc, have been assembled to do justice to the topic. Many of them I know personally and can attest to their rigour, scholarship and genuine commitment to improvement in the sector. To those I have not met, I have been privileged to read their resumes. To say they are intimidating is an understatement. I am convinced that we would end this conference with useful insights that will translate to a tangible solution.
“Let me thank the president, officers and members of the Maritime Forum, who have shown through this conference that young people can act as catalysts for change if they put their minds to it. I have always believed in the energy and dynamism of the youth and it’s not surprising that they are showing us that they are ready to lead in the future”, he concluded, saying how refreshing and humbling, it was for him, to see his little efforts at stimulating growth in the maritime industry, being recognized by his alma mater, the UNILAG and by its crop of young but highly intelligent students who had shown keen interest in the industry.