'Maritime Sector Underutilised'

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Chief Executive Officer of Ships and Ports Communication Company, Mr Bolaji Akinola,  says that after 50 years of independence, Nigerians have not derived the best of  values from the maritime sector.

Mr. Akinola said this during the 4th Annual National Essay Competition organised by  the company.

Speaking on the topic of the essay, How Has The Maritime Industry Performed In The  Last Fifty Years, he noted that there is little local value added in the oil  industry as Nigeria merely exports her crude and natural gas.

“The nation imports refined petroleum products for virtually all its domestic  requirements. As if that is not enough, Nigerians do not participate in shipping the  nation’s imports or exports. It is a double jeopardy.

“Policies to increase local content are bedevilled  by controversy and insincerity  on the part of the agencies saddled with the responsibilities of implementation and  the appalling unwillingness of the of the oil majors to patronise services rendered  by Nigerian shipping firms” Akinola said.

He added that Nigerians have not exploit the enduring gains inherent in the shipping  sector, while policies have failed to promote development along the growth.

In his address, the chairman of the event, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian  Shippers’ Council (NSC), Captain Adamu Biu, also lamented that the maritime industry  has not been exploited by the nation, saying , individuals with the requisite  knowledge are not encouraged to take appointments in Nigerian maritime training  institutions, especially the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN).

At the prize presentation ceremony, some of the winners include Princess Vicky  Haastrup, who won the Prize for Originality with a laptop donated by Micura Services  Limited; Mr. Adeleye Ajayi and Miss Munachinno U Anyanwu, who were awarded Sifax  Prize for Creativity and were  given a laptop each; Miss Blessing Josephine Ossai  and Mr. Chisomaga Opara- Eronini, who the Late Dr. Bassey Ekong Prize for  Outstanding Essay and Late Engineer Festus Ugwu Prize for Outstanding Essay  respectively.

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