By Anne Ejuka
The President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agent (ANLCA) Hon. Tony Iju Nwabunike said that the Nigeria's ocean
potentials have the capability to lift the nation from its economic quagmire if well developed and harnessed.
This was contained in a paper he presented recently at an annual lecture organised by Transport Day Newspaper in Lagos.
Nwabunike urged government to develop the potentials of the blue economy for its multiplier effect; pointing out that there were lots of untapped opportunities holding back not less than 30,000 jobs in the maritime and inland waters.
He called on the government to do more to make the maritime sector safe for legitimate business activities where it’s also properly interfaced with the oil sector.
He identified opportunities in import, export, fishing, tourism, chandling , dredging, among others, adding that these have “potentials to give governments at all tiers more taxes and provide sustainable earnings that will go round than what we have in the oil sector presently”
The president added, “Nigerian economy cannot afford to keep quaking anytime there is a downward slide in prices of oil in the international market.
“Staying on that economic route as our only lifeline for sustainability will only lead us into piling debts upon debts and going cap in hand for debt forgiveness where we are unable to pay. It’s time to look the direction of our waters".
Continuing, Tony pointed out that “a perpetual borrowing nation becomes an economic slave to it’s creditors. As our population increases by the years, the monolithic oil economy has become very unsustainable”.
On the issue of insecurity on the nation's territorial waters, the ANCLA boss said government can tackle insecurity on the nation’s territorial waters which he described as a threat to the blue economy.
.
According to him, “Our maritime domain suffers the setback of general insecurity either due to lack of priority attention, inadequate security platforms like patrol boats, aircrafts and supporting technological gadgets and lesser number of personnel to implement or enforce adherence to security on water; “Maritime piracy, sea robbery, oil theft, kidnapping on water or through water have been copiously recorded in the domain that should be contributing to our economic well being.
“I am almost tempted to say that our Exclusive Economic Zone is no longer exclusive to us because the people I choose to call maritime bandits are threatening our space", “I am aware that the Federal Government through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is rising to the occasion with planned deployment of advanced security assets to energise our blue economy. I believe it will work if consciously sustained".
“It is anticipated that this move will go a long way in fighting piracy and other maritime crimes in the Gulf of Guinea and our country’s entire territorial waters; “Safety of vessels, cargoes and crews on our waters have direct impacts on our overall economy since the maritime sector is critical for us in the areas of trade, investment, employment and recreation".
“While government is procuring platforms and training personnel for maritime security, I wish to advocate that a community supported security approach will be more productive.
“Government should as a matter of policy involve youths of coastal communities in a kind of Civilian Task Force to support the Navy and other security agencies in nipping our maritime insecurity in the bud.
“Further development of our maritime potentials will be a bold step towards economic diversification for job creation, addressing insecurity and positioning our ports for hub status in the West and Central African regions.
“Everyone agrees that a safer and more secure maritime sector will open a vista of economic improvements for us a country
“Most thriving businesses in our maritime domain are forced to spend a good part of their profits on the provision of security. Where such private arrangements are not made, oil , construction and other workers operating or transiting through waters face risk of kidnap, robbery or murder".
