“Maritime sector can create 1.5 m jobs in Nigeria”

A Shipping Practitioner, Mr Ayorinde Adedoyin has urged the incoming administration to develop the maritime sector which could create 1.5 million jobs.

Adedoyin, Chief Executive Officer, Peacegate Group, made the plea in an interview in Lagos.

He said the incoming government should take advantage of the fact that the sector had created over one million jobs and try to create more by developing the sector.

“I am still of the opinion that the Nigerian maritime sector can still give the government so much money.

“This is a sector that can create almost 1.5 million jobs if they say we have shipyards, we have new ports, new terminals, container transfer terminals; you know you have water taxis, you have ferries.

“I think government needs to look at the industry; they need to look at the sector; and see the potentials and take advantage of it.

“I want them to look at the maritime sector in totality.

“ There is a port; there is a waterway transportation that is key; there is the offshore opportunity like service boats, ship management opportunity.

“There are just so many opportunities that can create jobs that will bring in money to state level and tax to federal level.

“Is not just about one area. Is actually telling them that they should make it a  priority to face the maritime sector of the economy,’’ he said.

Adedoyin said Public Private Partnership (PPP) would play a huge role in ensuring proper management of resources to achieve the desired goal for the industry.

He advised that government should also guide against inter-agency bureaucratic bottlenecks.

The expert also suggested that container transfer seaports could be built to help cut costs for merchant vessels coming to Nigeria.