Nigeria as an oil producing and exporting country partakes in international trade. The maritime industry plays a major role in this and most of these transactions are done through the sea. Locally there are movement of goods which involve much logistics and planning.
Have you ever thought about how goods are transported in and out of the country?Do you know that a sector of the economy serves as the clearing house for goods that come in or leave Nigeria?
OluwatoyinAmao was at the University of Lagos recently for an event and she sought the opinion of people, especially students on what they know about the maritime industry. Enjoy:
The maritime industry is a prosperous one. It has the capacity to revitalise the Nigerian economy. Nigerians take landed property very seriously and a lot of income is made from that. If we take the waters we have around us that seriously, we would have an amazing economy. The maritime industry also seems like an abstract to students, the industry has to be brought home to students – youths, the younger generation to have a proper feel of it.
KoredeMartins
Lagos
The Maritime Industry is a gold mine, which has not fully been explored in Nigeria. Now this may be owing to the focus on oil. In recent times, however, oil is no longer generating the needed revenue, therefore, a paradigm shift from oil to the likes of maritime and taxation, is what we need, if we are to remain economically buoyant and afloat.
HosannaWilliam
Akoka,Lagos.
Well in my own opinion the maritime industry is an industry that deals with the running of ships and vessels as well as the movement of vessels and goods on the waters.
It also involves the custom and excise duties imposed on goods coming in and out as well as freights. Also oil and gas transportation, the buying and selling is being controlled by the maritime sector.
The maritime industry is a very vast industry as it creates lots of job opportunities in fact over millions of opportunities for people with very good pay and working benefits as well.
Chichi Akabuike
Lagos.
The Maritime Industry in Nigeria is a very key sector of the economy and a big revenue generating industry. Nigeria being a consumer nation with so much import from all over the world and export of our oil and gas, if key policies and programmes are implemented to drive the sector, it would boost the country’s economy. Nigeria is a coastal state with vast exclusive economic zone.
Bade Olateru-Olagbegi
Akoka, Lagos
when i think of the Maritime Industry i think of local and international Shipments; containers of goods being transported from one place to another. I also think about smugglers, militants and law enforcement agents to combat such.
InegbedionAfe
Gbagada, Lagos
The Maritime industry is a very viable one as it plays a crucial role in the exportation of Nigeria’s crude oil to other countries. It would also serve as the back bone for the revitalization of other sectors as Nigeria cannot solely depend on import but also need to export to boost our foreign revenue. It’s also very viable in terms of creation of job opportunities. However I feel the potentials of the sector are not fully utilized at the moment and can be improved upon.
Supreme Unukegwo
Yaba, Lagos
Generally speaking from my own point of view. I always see the maritime industry as a blessing to any nation and not just Nigeria because this industry serves as the major economy builder and sustainer. The level of contribution and development the industry addresses is extraordinary. I can’t really ascertain it in figures but the growth of any nation is really dependent on this sector. The maritime sector is a major boom to Nigeria as a country because it dictates one of the major growths in our GDP up to 30-40%. The government needs to visit and uphold this industry with relevant support most especially in this era of recession. I think the maritime sector can be one the major tool to revitalize our crunched economy situation. Major businesses in Nigeria depends on this sector even the oil itself. So in my own opinion i will suggest the government should look properly into this sector as a platform to reform our degraded economy.
TundeOlabanji
Ojo, Lagos
My view is that certain structural adjustments should be done. The Nigerian market in recent times have had all concerns on the oil sector; the maritime if reformed, giving chance for international collaboration, for technical trainings within the scope of skilled manpower, i believe growth can be achieved.
NiyiAyorinde
Lagos
The maritime industry is germane to the Nigerian economy. Being an oil producing and exporting country (which also consumes the same product), the country is a large market for foreign goods, considering its population. It could therefore be said that the maritime industry is one of the determining factors of the nation’s economic growth and development.
However, unlocking the potential in this sector requires the making of policies and execution of programmes that have the much needed capacity to enhance the nation’s economy. Besides, concerted efforts have to be made by the stakeholders in the industry to address the critically crucifying challenges combatting the industry’s efficiency and effectiveness.
Samson Owolabi
Ibadan
The Nigerian maritime industry is a huge sector and plays a huge role in the Nigerian economy. I believe everyone in the country is a stakeholder, because Nigeria is largely involved in exporting and importing, we need to export our crude oil and we are also consumers of other worldwide products, we are also strategically positioned to receive imports on behalf of other landlocked countries close to us.
Nigeria’s entire southern region shares borders with the Atlantic Ocean; this looks like big enough resource for the Nigerian maritime industry to become a worldwide famous industry, and even though it sounds big i don’t think this industry has had an immediate effect on the country’s economy nor its host communities. I once read about how the country not having any shipping lines and about how majority of the ships at the dock are run by foreign private companies. I believe that the maritime industry is not developing or has not developed up to its full potentials, with respect to job creation, youth empowerment and poverty alleviation, and all these three factors are whatis needed to develop a country. Nigerians should be able to feed off opportunities in the sector and until then, it will just be a sector overrun by foreign individuals like it is, currently.
GafarKasunmu
Lagos
TheMaritime industry deals with onshore and offshore of goods and services through the sea. It is a very good source of generating revenue for the state or the country at large depending on the authorities in charge. I believe the industry could thrive well if not, only those that are directly involved knows it all but make their operations more visible for people to invest in
exchange of goods and services through the seaport with charges on them which serves as a source of revenue generation for the government.
OlayinkaOlakangudu
Abeokuta
I believe the Maritime industry is an emerging industry with lots of opportunities, innovation and growth areas especially for aspiring entrepreneurs. The maritime industry comprises of companies whose activities supply innovative products and services related to the maritime sector. The industry includes all enterprises engaged in the business of designing, constructing, manufacturing, acquiring, operating, supplying, repairing and/or maintaining vessels, or component parts thereof: of managing and/or operating shipping lines, and customs brokerage services, shipyards, dry docks, marine railways, Marine fishing, repair shops, shipping and freight forwarding services and similar enterprises. This industry also includes a significant component of oil and gas and renewable energy. This industry is an under-explored area in Nigeria as many entrepreneurs’ eyes are yet to be opened towards this area. The industry could also serve as a means of export for the country which would automatically contribute to our GDP. In addition, its holds a chance of providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
Dada Segun
Ilorin
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