As Nigeria marks its 64th anniversary today, maritime operators are calling on the Federal Government to address the issue of fluctuating exchange rates to enhance importation. Speaking in Lagos on Monday, industry leaders acknowledged the significant growth the maritime sector has achieved in recent years but highlighted ongoing challenges due to fiscal policies.
Sikiru Remilekun, Youth Leader of the Tincan Island Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, noted that while the sector has grown, the unstable dollar exchange rate remains a major hurdle. “The challenge in the maritime sector, especially in import and export, has experienced some significant growth, but the major challenge remains the fiscal policies on the dollar floating,” he stated.
Remilekun suggested that pegging the exchange rate for cargo clearance at less than N1,000 per dollar could potentially boost the sector by over 200%. “This policy has slowed down the inflow and outflow in the port business. We urge the government to peg the dollar rate to less than N1,000 to significantly enhance growth,” he emphasized. He also pointed to issues with capacity building and excessive bureaucracy as impediments to progress.
Williams Ogunshakin, a ship captain and South-West Director of the Merchant Seafarers Association of Nigeria, echoed these concerns and advocated for improved maritime safety. He urged the government to support the Marine Pollution (MARPOL) efforts by establishing a management authority similar to the Lagos Waste Management Authority to clean the country’s waterways. “We need to stop dirt from entering our waterways, as most accidents are caused by debris dumped carelessly,” Ogunshakin stated.
He added that while maritime security has been challenging, recent efforts by stakeholders in collaboration with military forces have shown improvement. “In the past six years, maritime security has been terrible, but now we are seeing progress in our coast due to these combined efforts,” he noted.
