By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Seafarers have disclosed that the Nigerian maritime industry has the potential to generate $100bn annually if properly harnessed.
The seafarers said this on recently at an event to commemorate the 2023 World Seafarers Day, organised by the Joint Body of Nigerian Seafarer’s Professional Group comprising the Female Seafarers Association of Nigeria; Concerned Seafarers Forum; Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigeria; Maritime Professional Forum; Nigerian Association of Master Mariners; Great Mariners; Nigerian Seafarers Connect; Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron and Nigeria Maritime Pilot Association.
Addressing newsmen at the event, the Secretary-General of the Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigeria, Captain Alfred Oniye, said the proper implementation of the Cabotage Act could propel the country’s maritime industry to generate at least $50bn annually.
“The implementation of Cabotage Act is enough to generate nothing less than $50bn for the maritime industry yearly because it will open channels for opportunities in the industry. Nigeria is bleeding through the maritime. This industry can generate nothing less than over $100bn annually for the present administration.
“Apart from the implementation of the Cabotage Act, Nigeria is not too small to have a coast guard. The establishment of a coast guard will go a long way for Nigeria,” he asserted.
Oniye said that 80 per cent of Nigerian seafarers were jobless and the majority of them were out of sea.
“If we want these seafarers to meet up with their global counterparts, all they need is to add to their training and let them be more professional and create jobs for them. Even the foreigners that are bringing ships here with Nigerian flagships, the government must come up with a policy to say that 80 per cent should be Nigerian seafarers while 20 per cent foreign.
