“But what are the things that need to be done? If you fix infrastructure deficit in Apapa, for instance, and you are running a 24-hour economy that runs 48 hours cargo clearance, these jobs will come out on their own.”
Also speaking, the founding President of the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria, Isaac Jilapamo, explained that achieving one millions jobs were achievable. “One million jobs being created from non-seafaring opportunities are achievable. These are shore-based people who have nothing to do in running ships. Of course, one million jobs are more than doable because if you remember those days, we talked of five millions jobs in the maritime industry.
“I can easily say yes, what we are gunning for today is doable in a very short period because this may not involve the politics that is associated with training of seafarers. “We have to co-opt the maritime players but, of course, they also have their own limitations with the current trends in the maritime industry. But I’m beginning to see a ray of hope coming very shortly,” he said.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.