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By Steve Agbota
The Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that if elected as the President of Nigeria in 2023, professionals will be appointed to take charge of activities of the nation’s maritime industry.
With the knowledge of the professionals, the NNPP presidential candidate said he would do his best to tackle and address the challenges facing the industry.
Kwankwaso who stated this yesterday in Lagos during a townhall meeting with stakeholders organised by Prime Maritime Project, said his government will look into the position of constructing a rail line from both Apapa, and Tincan Island ports to a dry port area outside lagos where arrived goods should be domiciled for clearance in order to stop heavy trucks from causing a gridlock in Lagos.
“We should also look into the possibility of opening other ports such as Warri, Port harcourt, Calabar etc in order to decongest Lagos port. In addition, I can assure you that it will no longer be business as usual,” he said.
However, he urged the stakeholders forum to form the nucleus of the group that will be responsible for designing a workable and actionable Maritime Sector Reform Template which should include clearance of goods arriving the nation’s ports within 72 hours as done in other countries, tackling privacy within the nation’s territorial waters and the entire Gulf of Guinea, clearing of Nigerian ports of pollution because of discharge from ships.
“As I said earlier, the NNPP has a blueprint for the economy, maritime sector inclusive. However, having been here today and hearing you out, I have found out that more work needs to be done in the sector. I am therefore using this forum to solicit for your support so that I can emerge the winner of the 2023 general election,” he added.
“It is also my desire to see that the Customs and other regulatory agencies must be made to perform efficiently and effectively. The observed high level corruption in the system has to be tackled to improve the productivity in the ports.
Again, it is worthy here to make mention of effective border checks and control to stem the tide of smuggling and its related security implications. Indeed, the entry points of Nigeria shall attract the desired attention of my administration if elected the President.
In summation, the desired assistance to all importers of goods, manufacturers including exporters and other ancillary stakeholders associated with port operations and management will be guaranteed under our party’s regime, by the special grace of God!”
“So many things have gone wrong with the industry. I can still remember the days of the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) with its beautiful ships flying Nigeria’s flag across the globe! Why did it die? Why do we not have a replacement as the giant of Africa? What has become of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF)? Why has it not been disbursed to beneficiaries? From my little knowledge of the sector, a lot of questions are begging for answers!” he said.
He said his regime would address all the challenges in the industry if given a chance to become the next president of the country come 2023.
Also speaking at the event, Chief Operating Officer, Prime Maritime Project, Elder Asu Beks, said the team will invite all the Presidential candidates of the 18 political parties to enter into a social contract with critical maritime stakeholders.
He said maritime sector, apart from being the gateway to the nation’s economy, the net worth of the sector is estimated at about N91trillion and can boast of no fewer than 15million eligible voters on election day.
“That makes us one of the most critical sectors both in terms of contribution to the gross domestic product and a sea of prospective voters. I dare say that no Presidential candidate can win the 2023 elections without our votes.
“Any Presidential candidate who ignores this sector can as well say goodbye to ASO VILLA in 2023. Why a town hall meeting? While it is a truism that this sector is the most resourceful after oil and gas ,and given its immense contribution to our national economy,regrettably,successive administrations have continued to undermine the vast potentials of the maritime industry and have failed to articulate an enduring maritime strategy that will enable us harness its vast potentials,” he said.
