By KUNLE KALEJAYE
To see Nigerians fully represented and actively involved in the petroleum and maritime industry, experts in both sectors have stressed the need for a deliberate policy to stimulate massive investment in human capital.

They noted that indigenous operators in the industry are still at a disadvantageous  position compared to their foreign counterparts in ship management, vessel operations and offshore logistics. They also noted that regular training is necessary to provide indigenous operators a better understanding of contracts and investment opportunities in the sector.
Speaking in Lagos at a joint training workshop organised by the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and Richardson Oil & Gas Limited, the Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Mrs. Ify Anazonwu-Akerele, said such programme would ensure importation of technological skill.

Aside from the importation of technological skill, Akerele said the programme will encourage huge maritime infrastructural development, improvement and maintenance, strengthening of administrative structures. It will also encourage full and unfettered implementation of the cabotage regime, closer monitoring of the activities of port/terminal operators and encouraging them to employ better technologies.

According to her, the recently passed Local Content Law has the potential of ensuring effective indigenous participation by guaranteeing cargo contracts that will stimulate tonnage building, financing and key developmental actions to the Nigerian maritime industry.

The Managing Director, Richardson Oil & Gas, Mr. Akin Osuntoki, said the partnership is aimed at bridging the knowledge gap within the Maritime/Upstream Oil and Gas Sector through the provision of professional human capital development programmes.