The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate gaps and loss of opportunities in the maritime sector which accounts for the country’s annual loss of $7 billion.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) and Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun) at plenary yesterday.
Moving the motion, Ihonvbere noted that the maritime sector is crucial for the Nigerian economy’s survival with under-utilised seaports which can increase the nation’s revenue and indeed the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He also noted that Nigeria’s seaports receive barely 10% of West African imports out of 60 per cent destined for Nigeria, a significant economic loss due to poor management and inefficiencies, estimated to cost $7 billion annually.
The lawmaker expressed concern that most ships bringing goods to Nigeria prefer to go to other ports other than Nigerian ports.
“The Benin Republic benefits from Nigeria’s large market, while Cotonou remains a popular importer’s haven, huge trade cargoes are lost to Togo and other neighbouring countries from where they are offloaded and transshipped to Nigeria due to poor shipping connectivity and shallow draughts of the port channels which lead to trade cargo losses, estimated to be N250 billion in 2016 alone.
In the motion, he expressed worry that Nigeria is unable to provide adequate infrastructure and reduce pressure on Lagos ports just as the Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri, and Koko ports had not been developed as a haven for importers in the region.
He also decried inadequate infrastructure and lack of capacity in the growing cargo and maritime business which had made Apapa Port lose its leading position in West Africa due to congestion and poor quality services to shippers.
He said: “The Port of Lomé, with a capacity of 1.1 million 20-foot containers, overtook Lagos Port due to modernisation reforms which tripled its capacity from 311,500 containers to 3.1 million, thus, making ‘Togo’s Port of Lomé a regional transit hub.
He lamented that Apapa Port, Lagos, which handles about 1 million TEU annually, lost 30 per cent of its container traffic in over five years due to several factors bedevilling its inability to deliver efficient services to cargo owners.
“This explains why Nigerian ports have remained inefficient over the years. Nigeria’s major seaports in Lagos do not have deep draughts to handle bigger vessels, while modern seaports in Port of Lomé have a depth of 16.60 metres and the capacity to accommodate third-generation ships.
“Apapa port operates with a 13.5 metres draught that can only allow vessels with about 4,000 TEUs of containers to call the port”, he said.
Adopting the motion, the House mandated the Committees on Port and Harbours, National Planning and Economic Development, Maritime Safety Education and Administration, and Nigerian Shippers’ Council to investigate the gaps affecting the full realisation of the economic advantage of Ports and Harbours and other Blue Economy in Nigeria.
