Marine, blue economy can’t succeed without Nigerian fleet trading globally- Ogbeifun

Chairman, Starzs Investment Company Limited, Engr. Greg Ogbeiffun has again raised concerns over the absence of a national shipping line, saying that Nigeria cannot participate and succeed in the marine and blue economy without the establishment of a Nigerian global trading fleet.

Ogbeifun, who stated this while speaking as a panelist at the Maritime & Offshore Award (OMIS) held weekend in Lagos commended the government for establishing the Marine and Blue economy ministry but noted that owning a national fleet must be private sector driven or at best a public- private partnership initiative that must trade globally to enable it succeed.

He urged the new government to revisit some of the recommendations made by past committees set up by the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi to reestablish the national fleet and see how to deal with the identified challenges.

Speaking, he said, “The creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy calls for an urgent reaction by the private sector.

“About 12 years ago, I was privileged to be the Chairman organising the first Nigerian Maritime Expo (NIMAREX). In my opening remarks, I called on the then President of Nigeria to in a hurry consider establishing a Ministry of Maritime Affairs. That was in 2011. So, 12 years down the line, that has happened.

“Now that the government has responded by creating the Ministry, what is our own response?

“You cannot participate in the Blue Economy in the maritime perspective without first of all going back to reestablishing a Nigerian fleet trading globally. It can be a private sector driven initiative, definitely not for the public sector. The only national shipping line then was government owned and it failed.

“So, at best, it can be a Public Private Partnership initiative but we must go global if we must say or participate in anything involving the marine and blue economy.

“In going global, we need to look at the hindrances why various initiatives that have been taken to reestablish the National Fleet failed, so that the new government can see how to deal with these impediments.

“Some of us have been privileged to serve in various government committees, including the last one set up by former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who wanted to reestablish a Nigerian Fleet, so, we came out with various reports.

“The summary is there are recommendations made by the committee which this present government needs to go and look at and address. In a matter of months, we are going to have different entities, private sectors, who have the means of attracting investments to buy ships that can carry our goods, import and export. We need that urgently.”

Ogbeifun who is also the immediate past President of Shipowners Association of Nigeria ( SOAN) expressed concern over the country’s ship registry requirements as some private entities that have ventured into trading globally, including NLNG which has about 26 ships have their vessels classed and registered outside Nigeria.

He said there is an urgent need to look at NIMASA and the country’s flag requirements to make it more internationally attractive for shipping trade.

“If we are able to establish a national fleet and those ships cannot be flagged and registered in Nigeria, then they cannot trade globally.

“There was a committee that was set up to look at the issues with our Nigerian register and make it more internationally attractive so that the likes of NNLG who own ships that should have ordinary be registered in this country are now flagged foreign. Once we deal with these issues, the blue economy initiative must come to pass,” Ogbeifun said.