As part of effort to take full
advantage of its huge maritime resources, the Cross River State Government, has announced plans to float a state-own shipping line that will service countries along the same coastal line bordering it.
The State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade disclosed this when he received the 21 indigenous Merchant Navy Maritime students from the Philippines on a courtesy visit to his office, in Calabar.
The governor disclosed that “In our 2016 budget as amended, there is a provision for a merchant vessel that will provide maritime businesses between Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroun and in our next appropriation bill, there is a massive provision for Warf landing and other support services. So, we are also going to have a fabrication yard and other key maritime services as we refocus and broaden the maritime sector in the state.”
While thanking the Federal Government particularly Nigerian Maritime and Safety Regulatory Agency (NIMARSA) for their support in ensuring that the students completed their courses successfully without hitch, Ayade said: “Today, we have broad spectrum of Cross Riverians who are ready to take the state’s shipping line to higher height. So, we are decoupling from the Federal Government and now focusing on our shipping line as a result of the expertise we have acquired.”
The governor, who raised concerns about absence of Nigerians in that specialised area of the economy noted: “It is surprising and shocking to note that even vessels that provide services in Nigeria have very little of Nigerian servicemen in their ships. This is as a result of the fact that there is lack of trained Nigerian professionals in this relevant field. As a senator and also a member of the Mritime Committee of the 7th Senate, it became imperative for me to seek ways to create opportunities for my people and Nigerians to fill this gap.”
Disclosing how the cadets were spotted out, Ayade said: “These young men and women are products of my indigenous thinking as at the time I was in the Senate and serving as senator representing the Calabar North Senatorial District of the state. It became imperative for us to create new opportunities for our young men and women, understanding also that the maritime business was predominantly controlled by foreigners.
Friday Nwagbara, Calabar
