By Godfrey Bivbere

The newly elected president of the Nigeria Shipowners Association, NISA, Captain Niyi Labinjo has said that the shipping sector of the maritime industry can generate five million jobs over the next four years.

Labinjo, who disclosed this in an interview with Vanguard in Lagos, said the Federal Government only needs to implement the clause in the Cabotage Act which empowers local ship owners to have option of first refusal for all government cargoes unless they do not have the capacity to do so.

“We projected that in the next four years, we can create employment for five million people. For every ship, there will be shipping company, ship chandler, water supplier, grease supplier and also food supplier.

“ When we say we are creating five million jobs in four years in the industry this is what we mean,” he said. According to him,apart from the cargo available in the Cabotage catchment’s area, the retired Navy Captain noted that the cargo in the oil and gas sector also provide ample opportunity for the growth of local capacity.

He further explained that should the federal government pay attention to the industry, the sector could employ more than five million in four years, especially with the new collaboration with the management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA. He noted that developed nations that provide employment for their citizens do so through the efforts of the private sector. He stressed that dependence on government for employment for Nigerian youths in the past has been a major problem for the nation’s economy.