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Experts seek support for local content development in maritime sector

By Moshood Aliyu
08 July 2015   |   5:55 am
STAKEHOLDERS at the 2015 Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) have emphasized the need for government to strengthen the maritime industry through effective implementation of local content policy and cabotage Act. According to them, implementation of such policies would aid the regeneration of economic growth through the maritime sector. Chairman, NIMAREX 2015 Planning Committee, Ayorinde Adedoyin and…
Ship

Ship

STAKEHOLDERS at the 2015 Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) have emphasized the need for government to strengthen the maritime industry through effective implementation of local content policy and cabotage Act.

According to them, implementation of such policies would aid the regeneration of economic growth through the maritime sector.

Chairman, NIMAREX 2015 Planning Committee, Ayorinde Adedoyin and other experts stated this at the opening ceremony for the 2015 edition of Nigeria Maritime exhibition and conference at Eko Hotel on Monday in Lagos.

Adedoyin stated that, this year edition is targeted at throwing up solutions toward enhancing the economic fortune of Nigeria through the deliberate and ambitious exploitations of huge maritime resources of the country.

He stated further that, the conference session is to make expedient contributions to the seriously challenging issues of maritime trading for vessel acquisition and tonnage building, sundry equipment procurements and ancillaries.

He noted that, Nigeria must strengthen our local content and cabotage regimes, maritime/shipping policies and strategically address inter-governmental collaborations and synergies as much as support broad-based efforts to position the Nigeria maritime industry on a sound and viable path.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Hassan Bello, said that, at this period in our national development particularly in an economic environment where total dependence on oil revenue has been proved detriment to our national economic survival, we have identified the role of the maritime industry as a key alternative to the dependence on oil revenue.

He described the maritime sector as a high technology driven industry but there have been instances when this country has not taken advantage of emerging technologies for the development of key industries particularly for the cabotage trade.

However, he said effort to ensure the technological development of the nation should be intensified, and a pool of our technical experts should be drawn to develop a national maritime strategy that will ensure the implementation of a maritime development blueprint such that will enable this sleeping giant to wake up and make appropriate contribution to change initiatives of the nation.

Also, the Executive Director of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, on legal matters and cabotage, Clistus Obi stated that the agency at all level is willing to partner with stakeholders in the industry to grow and develop indigenous capacity.

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