Stakeholders in the maritime industry have urged the federal government to support the growth and development of local capacity to open the country’s blue economy.

They also urged President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, to address the challenges slowing down local operations.

Tinubu’s new year’s address where he promised to fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria as well as to remove any clog hindering the country as a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

The President, the Barge Operators Association of Nigeria (BOAN), Olubunmi Olumekun, said barging, as a critical component of the blue economy, contributed phenomenally to the development and growth of the maritime industry in 2023.

He said the barging industry is a subsector, which input in the movement of cargo in and out of the ports cannot be underestimated.
“We faced a lot of operational challenges in 2023, and as we speak, all these challenges, known to the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), are yet to be resolved by the concerned authorities as they are hindering our successes.
“Our subsector can generate revenue running into several billions of Naira and multiple job opportunities; it deserves adequate attention from the NPA and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. On our part, we are ready to collaborate with all identified key port stakeholders in 2024 to grow the industry,” he said.

The General Secretary of the Association of Bonded Terminal Operators of Nigeria, Haruna Omolajomo, said besides revenue that will accrue to the state and federal governments, the country must not allow foreigners to hijack port projects at the expense of the locals or indigene.

He said the government must prioritise local content through the adequate and relevant use of the indigenous bonded terminals.

According to him, bonded terminals ought to benefit at least 40 per cent of whatever trade comes to the country, adding that this will help to grow the economy and greatly reduce unemployment.

“I am expecting the federal government, through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to involve the indigenous bonded terminals and other national stakeholders or companies in the maritime public-private partnership to open up the nation’s blue economy,” he said.

Omolajomo also charged the federal government to enhance efficiency at the ports and facilitate the establishment of private sector-led maritime development zones for the allocation of ancillary services such as wreck removal and recycling, shipbuilding, and repairs in the maritime sector.