Joy Agwunobi
Laurence Smith, the chief operating officer of the Lekki Port, has issued a call to stakeholders across Nigeria’s maritime sector, urging a concerted and collaborative effort to unlock the industry’s vast potential.
Speaking at the BusinessDay Maritime Conference 2024, Smith delivered a keynote address on “Nigerian Maritime: Unlocking Potential, Overcoming Challenges,” where he emphasised the critical need for unity and strategic partnerships to drive growth and sustainability in the sector.
The event was attended by representatives from major shipping companies, port authorities, and maritime organisations among others, focused on addressing the challenges facing the industry and harnessing its opportunities.
In his address, the maritime expert, highlighted the multifaceted challenges facing the Nigerian maritime industry, ranging from inadequate infrastructure and regulatory issues, security concerns and insufficient investment.
However, he also pointed out the immense opportunities lying dormant within the sector that is capable of transforming Nigeria’s economy if harnessed effectively, noting that a well positioned maritime industry can drive growth, create employment, and connect Nigeria to the global market.
According to Smith, the maritime industry in Nigeria holds tremendous promise, but to fully realise this potential, obstacles that have long hindered progress must be overcome. He cited the delivery of Lekki Port by its promoters, Tolaram and China Harbour Engineering Company, as an example of what can be achieved with strategic investment in modern infrastructure. He also noted that due to the enhanced capacity of Lekki Port, it was able to receive the CMA-CGM SCANDOLA, the largest vessel to berth in Nigerian waters.
The Lekki Port COO further applauded the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) for investing hundreds of dollars to upgrade its facilities, urging all other government agencies at the ports to devise a long-term strategy for the multimodal evacuation of cargo.
He called on the government to streamline regulatory processes and enhance security measures to create a more conducive environment for business, and also advocated for increased investment in maritime education and training to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and efficiency.
Also speaking at the event, Mohammed Bello-Koko, the managing director/CEO of the Nigerian Ports Authority, disclosed that the NPA will collaborate with the Nigeria Customs Service to achieve 24-hour port operations, ensuring timely delivery of consignments to cargo owners. This cooperation, he noted, will eliminate delays and consequently reduce non-tariff trade barriers, streamlining the trade process and enhancing efficiency.
Adegboyega Oyetola, the minister of marine and blue economy, who was the special guest of honour at the event, assured participants of the federal government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business in the maritime sector.
Oyetola elaborated that the ministry is making efforts to ensure efficient trade processing at the ports towards enhanced ease of doing business ranking and boost revenue generation. He added that these initiatives are part of a broader strategy to create a more efficient and competitive maritime industry, capable of contributing to the nation’s economic growth.
