By Sylvanus OBASI
Maritime experts and speakers at the just concluded second edition of the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) Annual Maritime Lecture (MAMAL) have highlighted factors critical to maximizing the benefits of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in Nigeria.
The experts took turns to bear their minds during paper presentation and panel discussion session on the event’s theme tagged, ‘AfCFTA – Dismantling Barriers, Navigating Regional Trade’.
Speaking as a Panelist at the occasion held last Thursday in Lagos, Deputy Registrar, Liberian Maritime Authority, Dr Anthony Onoharigho described transportation and logistics as key sectors that will help the country achieve the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) objectives.
According to him, “The transport sector is undermined. To move goods within the country is a problem and now thinking about Africa, so we need to make things seamless by removing barriers.
“We have a competitive advantage by being producers of oil in the country but the constraint also is that we do not have vessels to move the oil outside the country,” he said.
Speaking while sharing his perspective on the discourse, a member, United Nations Committee on Trade and Transport Location, Dr Alban Igwe, noted that the country had all the opportunities to be a logistics hub if all barriers are removed.
Igwe added that there was need to dismantle everything that was pulling the country back so that it could get its share of the global cake.
“Todays’ conversation is very important, it is a wake-up call for Nigeria as the country is under a global threat, other African blocs are doing well, while Nigeria is struggling,” he said.
Also contributing, Executive Director, Operations and Technical Services, Tantita Security Services, Nigeria Ltd., Capt. Warredi Enisuoh noted that with AfCFTA, a future exists for manufacturers.
Enisuoh urged manufacturers to start thinking about Carbon Registry, adding that if Nigerians could organise themselves for this, they could have a National Carbon Credit to their benefit.
Also speaking during the panel discussion, a maritime security expert, Mr Emmanuel Maiguwa said the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, instead of focusing on National Shipping Line, should ensure that customs duty on vessel acquisition was removed.
“We cannot trade in Africa using our roads successfully and so the need to make acquisition of vessel to be cost effective, all barriers hindering the acquisition of vessel should be eliminated” , he said.
In his own submission, the President of Nigerian Shipowners Association, Mr Sola Adewunmi, who doubles as Chairman of the occasion, noted that the lecture was a good development but asked how prepared was Nigeria in trading on AfCFTA.
Adewunmi revealed that people are losing money due to bad policies and inadequate funding, adding that for Nigeria to be a shipping nation, incentives should be given.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere noted that by breaking down barriers hindering AfCFTA and fostering closer economic ties, the country would pave the way for unprecedented opportunities, growth and prosperity.
“Today’s discussion will explore how the country can collectively tackle challenges, leverage opportunities presented by AfCFTA, and position Nigeria and Africa at large to benefit from the estimated $3.4 trillion trade opportunities.
“To maximise the benefits of AfCFTA, Nigeria must address critical requirements such as improved trade infrastructure, efficient procedure, capacity building, investment in maritime assets and leveraging technology and innovation to facilitate trade.
“Intra-Africa trade currently stands at just 10 per cent, with AfCFTA, there are projections to raise this to 20 per cent and for this to happen, we must ensure free and efficient movement of goods across borders through vehicles, railways, ships and trucks,” he said.
