Chairman Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd., retired Navy Capt., Emmanuel Ihenacho, says Nigeria needs to become a producer of maritime services rather than remain a consumer.
Ihenacho said this at the Maritime and Offshore Award (The OMIS) held in commemoration of the 2022 World Maritime Day on Saturday in Lagos.
“If we don’t have our own vessels, then outsiders can come in and say that the much they know about Nigerian trade is piracy. And this opens us to exploitation.
“We should look at measures to ensure that all of the things we are missing are in place, and this will help us become producers rather than consumers of maritime services,” he said.
Ihenacho, who received the OMIS Lifetime Achievement award added that Nigeria could not continue to be a nation that consumed services produced elsewhere.
He said the country had able bodied people, intellectuals and other resources to buy infrastructure for producing oil and shipping services.
“We should have people at the policy level that should be thinking about these strategies and tell us how to go about it, marshal all these resources so that we will equalise the consumption with production.
“On the consumption side, yes we are using maritime services to the fullest but we should be able to add value to economy output by being able to produce maritime services,” he said.
Also, Dr Ify Akerele, former Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, says the Nigerian maritime sector was not where it should be but was making progress.
“Awareness is getting out and that is why we are here today. This is a high class selective award, separating the boys from the men, the chaff from the wheat.
“I am one of the judges and I saw the criteria, it was tough. A lot of people pride themselves as maritime operators but they really don’t meet the criteria.
“But looking at the nominees, I will tell you that we have come a long way,” she said.
Akerele pointed out that indigenisation of the sector was of essence, and required patriotism as well as professional.
She said the country had professionals but that most of them worked abroad, hence there was need to open up the shores so that they could come back.
Earlier, Mr Femi Da-Silva, Coordinator of OMIS, said all winners deserved their awards as the most qualified entries were picked based on set criteria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Niger Benue Transport Company Ltd. received the OMIS logistics/transport provider of the year, while CMA CGM received that of the shipping company of the year.
Also, the Most Outstanding Woman of the year award went to Dr Vicky Hasstrup of ENL Consortium Ltd.
OMIS is envisioned to promote excellence in the maritime and offshore industries by celebrating, motivating and deepening commitment of individuals and organisations in the sector.
