…as Nigeria loses marine based businesses to neighbouring countries

By Godwin Oritse

THE Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria, MASPAN, and the Nigerian Port Consultative Council, NPCC, have said that the continued loss of marine based businesses to port of neighbouring countries is unacceptable and called for a reverse of the trend.

Speaking at the recently concluded quarterly meeting the NPCC, Preseident of MASPAN, Mr. Emmanuel Maiguwa, said that Nigeria is losing so much revenue because of the issues posed by some agencies of government that have made the Nigerian ports uncompetitive.

Maiguwa also said that having the best port infrastructure in place will not give Nigeria the revenue it is looking adding that businesses will continue to move to port of neighbouring countries if the issues posed by these agencies are not tackled urgently.

He explained that Nigeria needs to promote its trade internationally adding that the Nigeria’s international trade is a one way traffic as there is no Nigerian vessel plying international waters.

He stated that Nigeria must make its marine environment friendly so as to attract marine businesses noting that the business environment in the marine sector is hostile and this is discouraging international businesses.

He stated: “We must make our environment very friendly, a vessel was arrested last year in Nigeria and because of the way we handled the matter, by the time they got a court order in June, the vessesl had gathered marine growth and could no longer commence on its voyage to the United States.

“What they did was that they sent an electronic mail and they were going to Lome for haul cleaning and I told the owners that there are companies in Nigeria that can do haul cleaning and they said no that it was not doing businesses in Nigeria.

“In Lome, the vessel changed crew, they bought bunkers, they bought provisions, they carried out inspections and other machinery repairs and the total money spent in Lome amounted to $674,000, which was a loss to Nigeria because our environment was very hostile.

“If you are to do anything, from Immigration, NDLEA to Customs to everywhere, they begin to line up from Liverpool all the way to the vessel, it is very expensive.

‘‘If you are giving fresh water in Lome for $10 per ton, the vessel will take the same fresh water for $60 per ton in Nigeria. So we have to address these issues if everything the Nigerian Ports Authority is putting in place is going to be useful’’.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian Port Consultative Council, NPCC Mr. Bolaji Sunmola, also agree that Nigeria is losing too much money to port of neighbouring countries because of Nigeria’s unfavourable port environment.

He advised: “We need to make our port environment good enough to attract good businesses; there is too much elongation, intervention, bureaucracy and all that; let us cut down and move forward. Togo do not have oil and gas but it is well known as a destination point for marketing and purchases; And where are they getting the bunkers, all from Nigeria; so we need to change this narrative, it is very important.’’