The Group Vice Chairman/CEO Sifax Group, Barrister Taiwo Afolabi has warned that deplorable ports infrastructure could threaten the implementation of a Presidential Executive Order.
Speaking over the weekend at the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference, the Sifax Group boss lauded the Federal Government initiative to restore order at the ports.
According to him, “Let me at this juncture commend the commitment of the Federal Government for reforms in the maritime industry, especially the Executive Order signed some months back by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.”
“It is an acknowledgement of the fact that things must be done differently. However, infrastructural deficit would negate the good intentions of the government if this problem is not strategically and urgently addressed.”
“One of the major factors that have impeded the sector from fulfilling its potentials is huge infrastructural deficit. Deplorable access roads, faulty cargo scanners, non-existent rail system, non-functional truck bay, among others, have conspired to negatively impact the service delivery efficiency and overall impact.”
“This challenge is the major reason we are all gathered here this morning in order to address it. Our sector cannot continue to reel under the burden of infrastructural decay if we want to contribute meaningfully to the economy and fulfil the industry’s potentials.”
“According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), the United Nations affiliate responsible for regulating the global maritime industry, over 90% of the world’s trade is transported by sea and it is, by far, the most cost-effective way to move en masse goods and raw materials around the world.”
“The sector also has a key role to play in the alleviation of extreme poverty and hunger as it already provides an important source of income and employment for many developing countries, such as the supply of seagoing personnel and ship recycling, ship owning and operating, ship building and repair and port services, among others.”
“As highlighted above, the maritime industry is strategic to any maritime nation in terms of its contribution to its economic growth and development. In Nigeria, the contribution of the sector to the country’s GDP is still very low when juxtaposed with its huge potentials and opportunities.”
and then