Maritime business is major driver of nations’ economy – NOA state director

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The State Director of National Orientation Agency, Mr Enoh Uyoh, has said that maritime business remains the 21st century major driver of nations’ economies with abundant benefits.

Uyoh said this in his address during a Maritime Business/International Trade Sensitisation Forum organised by Bright Flow Logistics Services and Nigeria Private Sector Alliance in collaboration with National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Uyo, Friday.

He said that the maritime industry in Nigeria has remained important to economic growth of the nation.

“The Nigerian economy is classified as a mixed economy and the maritime industry of Nigeria is a major sector of the Nigerian economy considering the country’s status as a major oil producing and exporting country.

“Maritime trade has played a key role in Nigeria’s economic development. It accounts for about 95 per cent of the vehicular means of Nigeria’s International Trade,” Uyoh said.

He said with the siting of the deep seaport at Ibaka, illegal fishing which has led to the country’s loss of approximately 70 million dollars annually would be forestall.

“Nigeria loses approximately $70 million to illegal fishing by the Chinese and European trawlers in our territorial waters.

“The siting of Ibom Deep Seaport at Ibaka in Mbo Local Government will to a large extent provide the much-needed security in the region as much attention will be paid to the security of vessels, and maritime activities by local fishermen will receive a boost,” he said.

Uyoh expressed hope that the seaport when operational would provide job opportunities to indigenes.

He called on the host communities to enable a level playing ground for business to thrive in the area for the benefits of the state.

Earlier, the Comptroller Shehu Gana, Nigeria Custom Service, Cross River/Akwa Ibom Free Trade Zone,Tinapa resort, Calabar Area Command, said that Ibaka in Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom has the deepest seaport in Nigeria with more than 15 metres depth and can accommodate over three merchant ships.

Gana, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller, Jude Azubuike, said if the State Government could harness and develop the natural gifted harbour, the economy of the state would be competing with countries like China.

“If Ibaka Deep Seaport is well harnessed and developed, Akwa Ibom State’s economy would be more than China. There is no ship that cannot enter Ibaka.

“Places like Lagos, Port Harcourt and others are channels where most of the ships move there. Some were not built as seaports but high sea where goods, containers, vehicles are transported to the main Port. But Ibaka has the deepest seaport in Nigeria,” he said.

He said that if the seaport were actualised, the state would have the biggest place in the world trade hub of Africa, adding that it will generate a greater employment opportunity for the masses.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bright Flow Logistics Services, Mrs Aniefiok Iton, said that the workshop was preparing people for maritime business to support the industrialisation drive of the state government.

She added that the sensitisation workshop was to create awareness of the opportunities in the Maritime sector, stressing that people must get involved in the underlined activities of the marine environment.

“Ocean that surrounds Akwa Ibom cannot be found anywhere else in Nigeria. It has the capacity to accommodate mother vessels from Far Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world.

“As a mariner, who has been in the maritime industry for many years, I know that the employment opportunities, wealth among others to be created from the seaport will be massive,” she said.