A concerted effort in pushing for a national maritime policy has been identified as one of the ingredients that can ensure future growth and development of the maritime industry.
The call was made by a maritime expert, Charles Okorefe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kamany Marine Services Ltd. at the launching of a book, ‘Maritime Capacity Development In Nigeria,’ written by Francis Ezem in Lagos, today.
Mr. Okorefe who delivered a lecture at the book launch, said that it was necessary because of the haphazard way with which things are being done in the industry.
In his words, “The time has come to come together to push for national maritime policy because people are doing things the way they like and because of the contrasting policies being given by the government.”
Speaking further, he identified inadequate manpower in the areas of seafaring and technical-know, absence of integrated transportation system and lethargic implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the cabotage law as the current state of doing things in the industry.
However, he opined that enactment of a national maritime policy, review and full implementation and enforcement of the critical provisions of the cabotage, establishment of a national fleet for commercial and training purposes would help for the development of the industry in future.
Mr. Charles who is also a lecturer with the Nigeria Institute of Shipping (CIS) added that Cabotage was one of the last hopes of Nigeria but the country seemed not to know what it had.
He said, “It is a legislation put in place to drive the industry, to give independence of the industry.”
Meanwhile, the author of the book, Francis Ezem has said that the lapses in the industry prompted him to write the eight chapter book as a means of correcting some of the shortcomings.
He said his background as a journalist on the beat coupled with his academic knowledge in the transport sector gave him the exposure to be able to identify the grey areas in the industry and to also proffer solutions to them.
