The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has said that if given the opportunity, the Israelis who are poised to pilot the $195 million Nigerian maritime security contract, will restore sanity to the nations waterways in six months.
Speaking recently during the launching of a book titled ‘Beacons of Nigeria’s Maritime Industry’ in Lagos, the Honorable Minister of Transportation explained that the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) is available for access, but the necessary requirements must be met.
The Minister also added that the cost of a vessel is twice or three times more than the cabotage fund and hence evidence must be shown that contributions will be made before the funds can be made available.
According to Amaechi, “In 2 years plus, we are fixing Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and we are also working on the rail transport because the pressure from the public is making us put pressure on our contractors.
“That Rail contract is for three years but we are doing it in one year because you are putting us under pressure and we are putting them under pressure.”
Regarding the maritime security contract awarded to an Israeli firm and being subject to discussion in the senate for several months, the minister said that, “What you need to just know is that there are so many interests benefitting from the illegality and insecurity on our waters, and hence they are the people fighting the passage of the contract.
“Give Israelis six months, Nigerian waters will be free from any form of crime. People who want the crime want it to continue so that they can be making more money.”
The chairman of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer, Mobhod Fisheries, Mrs Margaret Orakwusi emphasised that the nation needs to carry out an overhauling of what the foreigners have and what the indigenous operators don’t have on the issue of access to ship funding.
She advocated that the Cabotage Fund should be used to float a bank which is dedicated to the development of the maritime sector, adding that it is safe because nobody will go to a bank with a project that is unbankable.
The chairman added that the book is a model for what success is all about and it is highly recommended to everybody especially the young ones.
“This is a book that celebrates a lot of success stories from infants to who they are today and to their various contributions, bottlenecks because of their low moments.”
The co- author of the book, Hope Orivri said that there is no other time than this, adding that the interest in the sector is coming from both the operators and government, who have never stopped pushing and making their voices heard and that the consensus will yield a positive impact on the industry.
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