Port developer seeks increased private sector participation in maritime
NAN-ND-3
Maritime
By Nathan Nwakamma
Yenagoa, Dec. 11, 2016 (NAN) Mr Victor Akpanika, Managing Director, Port Notel Limited, Ibeno, Akwa Ibom, has canvassed increased private sector participation in the maritime industry.
Akpanika, proprietor of the indigenous port development company, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa on Sunday in view of the current review of the Maritime Laws by the Senate.
He said that provision for increased private sector participation in maritime in the review would attract investments to the sector and grow the economy.
The managing director said that the present regulatory framework in the country’s maritime sector was weak and repulsive to investors, thereby stifling growth.
According to him, there is need to encourage full private sector participation in ports development, ownership and operation in the amendment to the NPA Act.
He said that the present NPA act grants it the exclusive right to own and develop ports and at the same time act as technical and commercial regulator of the maritime industry.
“This policy stifles the growth and profitable development of this vital sector of our economy, because of overbearing bureaucratic interference, lack of probity and absence of competition
“There is also insufficient funding to build capacity coupled with globalisation and trade liberalisation that is forcing businesses and shipping companies to move towards countries with modern port infrastructure.
“Full scale privatisation rather than the current partial privatisation of the maritime transport sector will liberate us from these ills and yield huge revenue to the Federal Government.
“If properly managed as is the case in the telecommunication and power sectors, it will attract serious and financially solvent players.
“This will free government from heavy financial burden as well as create employment opportunities for our teaming youth population,” he said.
Akpanika noted that the NPA was currently saddled with port administration, nautical management, security and safety in and around port premises, nautical infrastructure and concession of land for terminal operations.
He said that Port Notel was currently involved in development of a Greenfield deep sea port, off the Atlantic coast at Ibeno in Akwa Ibom. (NAN)
NN/EMO/EAL/MST
Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola