Jean Anishere, Captain Alao and Hon. Nwabunike Point way Forward

Amidst calls on government across continents to protect and save maritime business from total collapse as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic, some Nigerian Maritime stakeholders are also calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene speedily by investing more in maritime infrastructure and supporting all operators in the sector to stay afloat even as the pandemic rages.

While shipping concerns in the Unites States are asking for a $3.5b Maritime bail out approval from Congress, the dearth of infrastructure and cargo haulage within Nigeria seems a bigger concern in Nigeria.

Barrister Jean Anishere-Chiarzor, is an activist and a legal service provider in Nigeri

jean-chiazor Anishere, Legal Practitioner

Speaking with Maritime Nigeria, Anishere said the Federal Government of Nigeria should fast track road maintenance works within the country.

According to her “The Federal Government should increase the speed on road repairs and maintenance, to ease traffic jam, robberies and accidents on our roads. We need the FGN to insist that the Lagos State Government should enforce its road policy on time trucks carrying containers, oil and other heavy duty equipment ply the roads. This will reduce the gruesome accidents which severally led to deaths of some innocent Nigerians”.

“The Federal Government should place priority on functional rail tracks within our ports to support the use of barges in order to reduce load carriage on our roads. This will ensure longevity of the roads and highways and reduce accidents and deaths”, she said.

On port operations and cargo evacuation, Anishere expressed hope that Covid19 has thrown up challenges which could make the better if action is taken to address such challenges.

In her words “The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a huge influx of goods awaiting clearance and an eventual lockjam due to difficulties in entering our seaports by trucks drivers to lift and or clear the goods either for exports by air or to deliver in their final destinations to the consignee. Thus, there is an urgent need for automation of our seaports to fast track clearing the process. Our scanners must be put back into use or new ones purchased in the circumstances. This will not only ease doing business in our seaports, but reduce the infection of Covid-19. Provision of functional Truck Transit Parks is equally important, to ease traffic and doing business in our seaports”.

Anishere called for the decentralization of sea ports operations to reduce pressure on the ports of Lagos by activation of the Easter ports and other ports being developed in the country.

“Our seaports in Apapa are congested and should be decentralized. Other seaports such as the upcoming one in Lekki, should be put into use to ease the heavy traffic in Apapa sea port. It is also pertinent to emphasize the need to complete the Ibaka deep sea port in Akwa Ibom and upgrade the Calabar sea port in Cross  and River State. Other seaports in the Country, like the ones in Warri and Port Harcourt should also be upgraded and put into maximal use”.

“I strongly believe that if our Government truly appreciate the fact that our seaports are gateways to our economic boom even in these pandemic times and prioritize my suggestions, we will be VICTORS of Covid-19 pandemic and not VICTIMS”, Anishere emphasized.

Captain Tajudeen Alao, is the President of the Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM). He is also a lecturer, trainer and solution provider to maritime technicalities across the world.

Capt Tajudeen Aloa

He told Maritime Nigeria that the Federal Government cannot shy away from its responsibilities as far maritime development is concerned. He said government intervention is inevitable to cushion the effects and disruptions caused by the Covid19.

In his words “The cushion effect or intervention by the Federal Government in the Maritime Industry should be directly proportional to the GDP contribution of Maritime to our economy. Losses in shipping and its ancillary services should be evaluated and Government palliatives channeled back accordingly as is been done in other climes. Loss of earnings by Maritime players and the need to keep the Industry afloat should be protected or provided for. Regulators have records of formal and informal areas which should guide Government in its stimulus packages” Alao submitted.

The National President, Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Hon. Tony Nwabunike, has earlier this year expressed great optimism on the future of the Nigerian economy if the right policy framework is adopted and urgent steps taken to harness economic potentials of the industry.

Hon. Tony Iju-Nwabunike
National President, ANLCA

In a position paper he personally signed, Nwabunike said with the right policy framework, the Nigerian Maritime Industry holds the ace in the economic prosperity of the country.

According him “We have watched the shocking and ongoing devastating impacts of the Corona Virus Disease on various sectors of the economy leading to massive job loss and general quake in the global economy. Though not completely insulated from effects of the pandemic, the Nigerian Maritime Industry holds potentials to serve as the country’s low hanging fruits for economic growth, stability and economic survival”

“Rather than worry over likelihood of job loss, customs brokers, freight forwarders, truck owners, chandlers and other ancillary service providers in the industry should gravitate towards keeping themselves abreast with virtual presence and operations in the ports”, Nwbunike said.

With resolve by heads of Maritime Agencies to work together, avoid frictions and collaborate for improved maritime development, there seems to be a new era of hope for Nigerian’s Maritime Industry.