Amaechi: What are you going to do?
There is no doubt that the minister of transport, former governor of rivers state, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi would have, by now, been briefed by senior management staffs of the federal ministry of transport, FMOT. Whatever the level of briefing, whatever he has been told or concealed by officials of the FMOT, the minister needs to roll up his sleeves and see things for himself.
The issues and challenges affecting maritime development are as many as the waters are deep and as varied as the aquatic life therein. Your visit to the ports in Lagos exposed you to some of them even though your aides in collaboration with heads of the agencies you visited shielded you from the daily traffic nightmare which you should have experienced to appreciate the ordeal of port users.
We do not intend to belabour the traffic issue here. There are other issues which require your attention for the maritime industry to develop.
Training Ship
The regulatory role of NIMASA seems more revenue focused than developmental. Maritime Education and Training as we speak is in dire need of direction, projection and ordering. How many maritime Academies do we have in Nigeria? What training facilities do we have? Which do we need? One issue that government is shying away from is the importance of a Training Ship. The Maritime Academy of Nigeria does not have one nor does any of the private maritime academies. This administration will make an indelible mark by getting one for the industry.
Search and Rescue, SAR
Much needs to be done. The contract between NIMASA, indeed the federal government and Global West Vessel Specialists is one contract that has made no appreciable impact in the industry. Oil theft, sea robbery and kidnappings are common place. Either there is no synergy between the security agencies or some level of complicity as alleged exist between them and the criminals who continue to bleed this country. Something needs to be done very urgently. A helicopter bought for this purpose is either grounded or being used for other purposes. If it’s for national interest fine, but the secrecy is absolutely unnecessary. That crude oil thieves grow bolder, sea crimes continue and accidents happen and response is very slow, if at all, are serious cause for worry.
Cabotage
Cabotage is a policy gone awry. The provision that Cabotage vessels must be built in Nigeria, owned by Nigerians and crewed by Nigerians is, maritime stakeholders say, inserted to favour foreign vessels and their partners in Nigeria. From waiver to waiver, Cabotage was sabotaged from conception. But huge sums accrued from the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF. The audit you ordered should reveal the actual amount and how the over N40b has been spent.
NSDP
The Nigerian Seafarers Development Program, NSDP is an idea muted by a former director general of the agency. While over N30b has been expended, the results are difficult to point at. As we speak, NSDP cadets are at home waiting for sea time paid for by NIMASA. These foreign maritime schools in Egypt, United Kingdom, Philippines and other places have either reneged or are daring the government of Nigeria. There is need to evaluate the NSDP program and chart a new course for maritime manpower development for the country. I am yet to find any country running a program similar to our NSDP anywhere in the world.
National Carrier
A maritime agency CEO has said “we are a pretending maritime nation if we do not have ships” We import petroleum products. We import furniture, motor parts, machines, tools, utensils, the list is endless. One maritime stakeholder captured our situation when he said, “a farmer plants different varieties of yam, sells them all and goes to buy pounded yam from those he sold the yams to. He does not only pay for the pounded yam, he pays for the truck, the driver and Motor Park charges. Without ships, it is in vain that we train and retrain. I shudder when I recall the statement by another maritime stakeholder that we breed potential pirates if we do not make plans to absorb maritime trainees when they complete their trainings. Hon minister sir, the time to act is now.
NPA
The Nigerian ports Authority while ceding port operations to concessionaires did not stop collecting charges for services it no longer render to importers/port users. What importers using Nigerian ports pay for do not exist in neighboring countries, this is why cargo diversion continues. If you add to this charges by customs, SON and other agencies of the federal government the reasons why Nigerian ports remain second or third choice to importers is clear. The attraction to Nigeria ports, importers say, is its large population and voluptuous appetite for foreign goods
Eastern ports
The Delta Ports of Warri, Koko and Burutu remain desolate. To blame this on militancy when it no longer constitutes any impediment to business is an excuse that is no longer tenable. There is need to inject some life into these ports by dredging and putting in place the required infrastructure and incentives that would make the ports attractive to importers in this part of the country who still use Lagos ports.
Calabar Dredging
The Billions of naira spent by NPA to dredge, dredge and re-dredge the Calabar port without the desired result is one of the reasons why Nigeria’s economy remains the way it is. The high rate of unemployment is attributable to the failed dredging and similar projects dotting the country. The onus is on this administration to correct such recklessness if change is to be effected and others deterred from such acts in the future; otherwise, the change mantra could be but an illusion.
Port Access roads
You came, you saw, you felt. Seeing you entering a bus from the Nigerian Shippers Council was a huge relief. Where ever they drove you through, you definitely saw long queues of truck, okada riders and trekking commuters. Apapa is one hell of a place. Why it remains like that with the huge revenue to government from the area is a mystery you may wish to unravel.
Transport Master Plan
For years it’s been talk and more talk on a Transport Master Plan for Nigeria. There must be something on it somewhere. Please look at it, make necessary inputs and bring it to life that all efforts by all agencies will be focused on its actualization.
Cargo Diversion
This is a real and present danger to the Nigerian economy. High cost, delays, multiple payments, duplications of duties, the quest for revenue by all government agencies, lack of infrastructure, corruption. Nigerian bound cargo are taken to neighbouring countries, discharged and trucked into Nigerian markets. The auto policy is an issue you should not ignore.

Agreement with concessionaires
The details are unclear. Whatever the gains of the port reforms, they are blighted by increased unemployment, agitations, strikes, protests, high cost of goods in the markets (blame it not on the dollar), cost to Nigeria etc. according a former CEO, “at what cost has the progress made being made”? Is Nigeria/Nigerians better off? No doubt a review of the whole process is necessary.
These are points to ponder as you strive to reposition the industry. Goodluck sir.