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The Managing Director, Oceangate Engineering and Geophysics Ltd., Taiwo Magbojuri,on Thursday says Nigeria lacks indigenous participation in maritime industry, in terms of vessels, cargo, ship liners and others.
Magbojuri, a maritime expert, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that stakeholders in the maritime industry should ensure compliance with the Cabotage law to provide employment.
He said that Nigerian youths could not be looking for jobs when opportunities abound in the maritime industry; which was mopped up by foreign professionals at the detriment of the country’s teeming youths.
Magbojuri described the compliance with the Cabotage law which stipulates certain percentage of indigenous involvement in the control of waterways and vessel as a means of job opportunities for youths.
According to him, some, who, we believe are players in the sector, are just there to make money and not representing the interest of Nigerian youths at all.
“Many international ships coming to Nigeria does not have Nigerian personnel on board as they prefer using their nationals which is against the Cabotage law,’’ he said.
Magbojuri said that the problem of foreign vessels not employing Nigerians was not the only challenge, but that some indigenous owners of vessels were also guilty too.
“The foreigners are not only to blame but the indigenous ship owners in Nigeria are as guilty as their foreign counterparts.
“There must be a concerted effort to bridge this gap in the maritime sector as this can really drive the economy and provide employment to our youths.
“There are many areas in which the youth can work in the ships which should not be attributed to the foreigners at all. It is time to stand up for what is ours.
“The laws are there but we need to fulfil what the law says, most especially the cabotage law in order to reduce unemployment in Nigeria,’’ NAN quotes him as saying.
Magbojuri said, “the maritime industry needs a revamp in order to provide the necessary succour to the unemployed youth in Nigeria.’’
“What we want is simple. We are talking about employment opportunities for Nigerians but we are not opening up a viable industry that can absolve as many as it wishes.
“There are prospects in maritime industry but these opportunities are mopped up by foreign professionals at the detriment of the indigenous experts.
“Many vessels that come to Nigerian territorial waters do not comply with our Cabotage laws. They are filled with foreign expatriates. Even the local vessels does not have the required number of indigenous experts.
“If Nigeria sincerely wants to grow the maritime industry, foreign experts cannot do it for us. We need to train our own in becoming masters in the ships through cadetship training programmes,’’ he said.
Magbojuri said that the Nigerian maritime industry had been left behind for long and consistently controlled by foreigners who added no value to the economy.
“There was a study conducted in University of Lagos by Prof. Stephen Oyebade, in which we realised that the maritime industry has been left behind which has given gap toward its development.
“If we can synergise development in maritime sector, we will be able to employ Nigerians, not even the graduates but a sizeable number of youths in becoming active players in the sector,’’ NAN quotes the maritime expert as saying.
Magbojuri said that the country’s educational system in maritime studies curriculum could also be revisited to accommodate industrial practical training sessions.
“Nigerian educational system only believes in classroom work alone which is causing a drawback in the maritime system. Most knowledge is classroom with no practical.
“The curriculum should be situated such that there will be industrial or familiarisation of vessels or training programme. Students must be able to pass all the rudiments of marine experiences.
“The students should have knowledge of ships voyage, vessels and cargoes, oil rig platform and others as expected of them.
“After the necessary knowledge, then the various maritime companies should be ready to absolve the students thereby providing the needed employment. We need to open up,’’ he said.
NAN reports the Cabotage law seeks to protect merchant ships in most countries that have a coastline to protect the domestic shipping industry from foreign competition, preserve indigenous-owned ships and infrastructure for national security.
The Nigerian Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act No 5 of 2003 Section IV Sub-section I article a-e states that;
“The vessel is wholly and beneficially owned by Nigerian citizens or by a company wholly and beneficially owned by Nigerian citizens and a vessel or company is wholly and beneficially owned by a Nigerian.
“Where all the shares in the vessels and the company are held by Nigerians free from any trust or obligation in favour of any person not a citizen of Nigeria.
“The vessel is on bareboat charter to Nigerian citizens and is under the full control and management of Nigerian citizens or a company wholly and beneficially owned by Nigerians in terms of subsection (1)(a).
“The vessel is owned by a company registered in Nigeria and the percentage of shares in the company owned by Nigerian citizens is not less than 60 per cent;
“The vessel is exclusively manned by officers and crew of Nigerian citizenship except where Section 10 applies; and role of the body – Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) to the sector as indispensible.
“It should call on professionals to bring to the fore their expertise in helping the agency actualise its core mandate of regulating the industry,’’ the law indicated
