Groaning under intensive hardship on account of government policies along with international economic troubles, this news from the Maritime sub-sector is just not heartening, as more than 20 shipping companies were reported to have exited the nation’s shores. As a result, no lower than 3,000 dockworkers have already been let go by a variety of shipping companies, terminal operators along with logistics firms. This really is mostly due to lack of poor import procedures lately introduced by the Federal Government. According to the Dockworkers Union of Nigeria (DUN), the huge retrenchment in the sub-sector was due to the Government inability to meet its joint venture obligation with the global oil companies which are major partners with the marine logistic companies.
The shipping outlines exited our coast line because of growing losses resulting from declining site visitors volumes and recent government import policy.
It will likely be recalled that the Federal Government last year placed limitation on the importation of about Forty one items due to Foreign Exchange scarcity. But, govt defended its activity and promised to stimulate domestic production of some of the goods that could be made locally. However, your shipping firms are complaining that the exclude has adversely impacted their operations. Consequently, they are asking the restriction be lifted or else it will encourage smuggling, diversion of ships to neighbouring nations, leaving our locations virtually empty and general loss of income to government.
All of us urge the government and also the relevant agencies from the maritime sub-sector to take reveal analysis of the complaints which have resulted in the leave of the shipping businesses with a view to revive the smooth operations of the maritime industry.
While it's necessary to restrict the particular importation of goods that can be produced locally and help save scarce forex, the value of the maritime market of which shipping operators play a vital role should not be ignored. Statistics reveal that since this year, the number of goods imported to the country has shrunk simply by over 30 percent. This is because the shipping line is reportedly shifting foundation to other West Photography equipment countries in response to government new policy.
Govt should review a few of the policies as it affects the shipping operations in our shores.
There is need to meet the jv obligations with the global oil companies, that happen to be major partners in the sector.
Government should not allow the shipping sub-sector to lag behind in the global sector.
Our own country is vastly endowed with coastlines along with navigable inland waterways, along with strategically placed on your Atlantic Coast of West Africa. And 76 percent of transport business that takes put in place the whole of Gulf Africa is apparently done in Nigeria. Which means that Nigeria should continue being a key player in West Africa.
Consequently, government should do everything to contain the exit involving shipping firms in our shores and help save the jobs of countless workers. According to Fiscal Intelligence that monitors the maritime sub-sector, even with Nigeria’s large export regarding crude and import of over 100 trillion tons of general shipment, no Nigerian flagship is currently plying international routes. For further details on international shipping click here.
Also, statistics from the Nigerian Slots Authority (NPA) on ship calls to the region reveal that between 09 and 2012, Nigeria’s tonnage is growing from 82m tons close to 150m with an estimated freight payment of increasing from $4.1bn to above $7.5bn annually. But the participation of Nigerians remains practically zero.
Although the exit of foreign shipping and delivery firms may be the chance our local transport firms may be expecting, we doubt should they have the capacity and competency now to fill the void without harming an already blood loss economy with its various other adverse consequences. Govt should swiftly intercede and arrest the same experience that found the exit associated with some airlines to be able to neighboring countries.