Minister of Transport says
Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar has expressed the readiness of private investors to invest in the maritime sector to the tune of 60 per cent equity.
He also said that investors in the Greenfield port projects were even ready to construct what he described as “breakwaters” in their bid to ensure that the projects come on stream as early as practicable.
He also stated that he was particularly happy that the Greenfield port projects in Lekki and Badagry (Lagos State) and Ibaka (Akwa Ibom State) were recording appreciable progress.
A statement signed by the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Transport, Mr. Abiodun Oladunjoye, quoted Umar as saying this at Dipcharima House, the corporate headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Abuja when the Senate Committee on Marine Transport led by its Chairman, Senator Zainab Kure paid him a courtesy call.
According to Oladunjoye, who is an Assistant Director, Umar said he was happy that the Committee had visited some of the establishments and interacted with some of the stakeholders in the maritime sector to enable them understand the potentials, prospects and challenges in the highly lucrative sector.
The minister expressed regret that the potentials in the sector were not yet fully tapped and enthused that with the calibre of people in the committee, great times are ahead in the industry.
He assured that with the recent reforms in Nigerian ports especially the streamlining of the number of agencies involved in the cargo clearance progress, the stage is set for the quick clearance of goods at the various ports in the country.
He assured that the target of 48-hour cargo clearance is now very realistic and this would make the issue of diversion to ports of neighbouring countries a thing of the past.
He also restated the need to ensure that concessionaires at the Ports performed optimally by looking at the various laws/agreements which brought them into being to ensure that the agreements are not unduly in favour of any party.
On inland transportation, Umar stated that with the successful completion of the capital dredging of the Lower River Niger, and the commencement of the utilization of the channel, the Federal Government would award the dredging of the River Benue next year.
This, according to him, will complement the already dredged River Niger in the movement of goods and services through the channels and alleviate the suffering on the roads.
On wrecks and derelicts, Umar said that arrangements were on going to ensure that while some have been removed, the extensive cost requirements of the exercise were stalling the removal of the other identified ones.
Kure had earlier in her opening remarks observed that having visited some establishments and interacted with operators in the industry, the potentials are indeed enormous, adding that there was a lot of ignorance about the challenges inherent and what the industry was capable of doing for Nigeria.
She said she was particularly delighted about the development of the Greenfield ports as this will make it possible for bigger ships to berth in Nigerian ports, translating into more revenue for the country.
According to her, the marine sector should be running at par with the oil sector in revenue generation for government as there can be no oil sector without the maritime sector.
She added that with her interactions with stakeholders in the industry, they were happy with recent reforms at the ports and they appreciated the efforts of the Government to decongest the ports.
Kure also said that the concessionaires at the ports believed that the Government can still do more for them especially in the provision of infrastructures particularly roads and rail systems.
On the issue of manpower development, Kure said she believed that Nigeria was capable of meeting the manpower needs of the sector if the Maritime academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron, Akwa Ibom State was well funded and also called for the establishment of more academies.
She said issues surrounding the establishment of other academies would be looked into by the National Assembly. She assured that when the bills relating to the reforms of the sector would be accorded the seriousness they deserve.
Other members of the committee who on the courtesy call on Umar were Senators Benedict Ayade, Kabiru Gaya, Saidu Alkali, Danladi Sankara and Pius Ewherido.
Source: This Day Live