How Nigeria Can Become Maritime Hub For AfCFTA, By Shippers’ Council

How Nigeria Can Become Maritime Hub For AfCFTA, By Shippers’ Council

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, has highlighted key issues to be addressed to make Nigeria become a maritime hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Jime recommendations at the sensitisation seminar with the theme: “African Continental Free Trade Area: Implementation Strategy for the Maritime Sector,’ organised by the council.
Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr. Cajethan Agu, who represented the Director-General of the council, noted that there was need to look at some indicators critically so that Nigeria could benefit adequately from AfCFTA, saying: “The first indicator has to do with the Logistics Performance Index. On the table, the first is South Africa, followed by Egypt and Kenya; Nigeria is number 14, globally we are 110.
“The second indicator is the dwell time of cargo at our ports. This measures the clearance time of cargo at the port. The port in Durban, South Africa and Lome port is four days, while Apapa Port hovers between 20 and 22 days. Another is connectivity rating, our closeness to global market. South Africa is first, globally 52; Egypt second and globally 58; Nigeria is 8 and globally 75.”
He pointed out that from the above Nigeria has got more work to do to reposition the country as the maritime hub for AfCFTA.
Jime added that in the Nigerian port sector, road, rails, inland infrastructure, coupled with the perennial and embarrassing gridlock on our port access roads, may not cope with the anticipated increase in economic activities occasioned by AfCFTA.
The DG started that for Nigeria to benefit fully from AfCFTA, and assume the position of maritime hub, there should be conscientious efforts by government and the private sector to carry out some quick intervention measures.
“The first is to fix the road on the major trade corridor connecting Nigeria and West African neighbours. Second is the port automation of processes and procedure with the establishment of a single window.
“There is need to provide scanner at the port, fast track the development of Lekki Deep Sea Port, improve the agricultural value chain,” he said.
He noted that if the indicators were implemented, they would spur economic growth and prosperity and eradicate poverty on the African continent.
He said this would boost job creation, eliminate barrier to trade, facilitate free movement of goods produced by African countries and boost inter-regional trade.
Jime said the scheme would increase the volume of economic activities for African ports including Nigerian ports, at enterprise level, adding that it would also improve competitiveness by exploiting opportunities, boosting intra-African trade, which would lead to more shipping activities for Nigeria.
He pointed out that NSC had established a trade support project to boost trade such as promoting inland dry ports, vehicle transit areas, border information centre to provide trade information, prevent undue harassment and formalise informal trade in Nigeria.
National Coordinator, Action Committee on AfCFTA, Mr. Francis Anatogu, listed some goals to help reap the benefits of AfCFTA such as growing productive workforce, engendering a friendly business environment and growing local demand, among others.
He noted that the committee had developed a strategy with some interventions being inputed but would still seek more inputs from the programme.
A representative of the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN), Dr. Albany Igwe, canvassed the need for Nigeria to have a multi-modal hub, maintaining that Nigeria has not signed the convention on carriage of goods that will help improve all the services across all modes.