Godwin Oritse & Martha Akokhia
THE Committee on the Nigerian Maritime Exposition, NIMAREX 2012 has decried the non participation of indigenous maritime operators in the importation of over 12billion  liters of petroleum products annually.

Disclosing  this in Lagos recently NIMAREX Committee Chairman HRH Eze Chijioke Egwuagu Collins stated that with vast potentials in the Nigerian maritime industry, it is a shame that Nigerians are not part of the shipment, and clearance of these vessels and their imports.

According to the Eze-elect, Nigeria being an import-dependent nation with an import volume of over 82 million tons of cargo in 2008, 93.7 million tons in 2009 and 100 million tons in 2010, the situation provides a fertile ground for a remarkable participation of indigenous maritime players in the country.

“International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria export about 40 million barrels of Crude Oil per month or 480 million barrels per annum. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on behalf of the Nigerian Government exports 40 million barrels of Crude Oil per month or 480 million barrels per annum

“Nigeria has an LNG reserve of over 7 trillion cubic meters. LNG tankers are required for the non-stop massive shipment of LNG annually. Nigeria’s upstream Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) offshore exploration operations presently employs about 520 marine equipment, tug boats, crew vessels, barges” to mention a few.

He said NIMAREX which debuted in the first quarter of this year, was primarily set up to serve as the viable platform to showcase such enormous maritime  potentials to the rest of the world as well as encourage more Nigerians’ participation in the venture.

NIMAREX 2012, he said, “promises to provide the needed avenue to showcase maritime products, new technologies, service and expertise, as well as provide the platform to unlock various business opportunities in Nigeria’s largely unexploited maritime sector”.

The Royal father noted that with such volume of maritime trade and required marine equipment, Nigeria qualifies by her volume of import trade to be a short sea-trade hub of West Africa

He pointed out that dream was not far from reality given that “the Government of Nigeria is at the verge of changing her Crude Oil export trade policy from FOB contracts to CIF contracts as is obtainable all over the world to allow Nigerians lift a minimum of 90% of her Crude Oil products as guaranteed by the Local Content Act.”

The NIMAREX 2012 Planning Committee Chairman therefore called on reputable Shipyards to consider partnering with Nigerians to participate in providing about 914 units of various marine equipment required by the IOCs for their offshore exploration operations