Maritime Stakeholders Brainstorm On Nigeria’s Trans-Border Trade
Stakeholders of the Maritime sector are set to brain storm on the way forward for the country’s trans-border trade and how it could impact positively for the economic development of the nation.
This gathering is billed to take place at the 2023 annual conference and awards of the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON).
The gathering is set to bring together the maritime industry players and other associated trades together.
Oluwasegun Oladipupo, General Secretary AMJON/secretary conference planning committee, in a statement made available to news men said: “It also promises to assemble the who is who in the industry come December 14, 2023, at the Rockview Hotel Apapa, Lagos; to brainstorm on the most viable options available to Nigeria to make its trans-border trade more profitable to the nation.
“The five-star event which is in its fifth edition, will be chaired by the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.”
The theme of the event is: ‘Rebuilding Nigeria’s Economy towards a Viable Trans-Border Trade.’
Whereas, Nigeria’s economy is believed to be the biggest in Africa, it holds the potentials to influence trade in the West and Central African region. Nigeria controls over 70% of cargo throughput in the region which accounts for the largest volume of trade by any country in the region.
Analysts have averred that illegal trading activities such as smuggling had over the years, resulted in the Nigerian markets being flooded with products manufactured outside the country, but which one way or the other, illegally gets into the country.
In view of President Bola Tinubu Administration’s efforts to reposition the Nation’s ailing economy anchored on his ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra, “rebuilding Nigeria’s economy towards a viable trans-border trade,” has become imperative.
The AMJON 2023 annual conference seeks among others, to achieve the following objectives: Identify the viability of opening up the Nigerian economy for more importation without making the country vulnerable to dumping, weakened national currency, job loss, closure of industries and other likely challenges.
This is in view of the recent pact between the Nigeria Customs Service and Customs Administration of Benin Republic which allows for harmonisation of import policies and unification of cargo clearance procedures across borders.
Identify impediments to Trans-border trade such as poor access roads from Babana in Kwara State to Ilorin, Shaki in Oyo to Ibadan, Seme – Badagry in Lagos State, Igolo portion of Benin Republic leading to Nigeria.
Others are, slow pace on the reconstruction (over two decades) of the Apapa ports access roads, Onne, Calabar and Warri ports roads with a view to encouraging the Federal and State governments to addressing these critical infrastructural deficits.
The conference also aims at drawing maximum attention towards maximising the potentials of the Blue Economy, AfCFTA and Exports among other international trade deals, which is widely acknowledged to be low hanging fruits for economic diversification from a mono-cultural economy to a more viable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly source of sustenance for Nigeria.
It also aims at engendering inter-agency and government/private sector collaborations to build capacity in the areas of indigenous investment, professional expertise and limitless opportunities for job creation, among other benefits.
Paul Ogbuokiri, President of AMJON, while speaking about the 2023 conference, said that it had become a tradition for AMJON to set the pace for stimulating discussions on a yearly basis on strategic policies and programmes of government that will benefit the government and the people alike.
Ogbuokiri, said the theme of this year’s event was carefully selected to key into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda to boost business and generate revenue for the government, while creating employment for Nigerians.
“The theme is also in tandem with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) new trade policy on trans-border trade with the Nation’s border countries, particularly Benin Republic,” he said.
On his part, the Chairman Planning Committee of the event, Mr. Innocent Orok said this year’s AMJON conference and awards is particularly targeted at educating importers, exporters, shippers, truckers, government agencies and maritime stakeholders on the viability of trans-border trade.
He urged the Nigerian trading communities and other business men and women to leverage on the opportunity the trans-border trade offers to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Orok, said that the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is expected to chair the event and give a keynote address.
Also, he said the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Executive Secretary (ES/CEO), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NCS), Director General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), among others are expected to make presentations on their roles towards promoting trans-border trade in Nigeria.
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Orok, said this year’s conference will also honour some patriotic Nigerians who have contributed their quota towards the growth and development of the sector.
“The awardees cut across CEOs, Public Relations Managers and other stakeholders.”
It is on record that AMJON as a foremost Maritime Journalists group in Nigeria as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), in the last five years had used its annual conference and other organised workshops to set agenda and stir up stakeholders’ engagement in the Nigerian maritime sub-sector.
