Connecting Ships, Ports and People
Whoever came up with the theme of this year’s World Maritime Day is no less than a genius. She or he must have thought about the same connecting principles that helped the United Nations (UN) arrive at her 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) model. For me, I have always heard about the SDGs, but I never took time to do a serious study of what exactly they mean and why they came up, until recently. When I eventually got interested somehow and studied extensively on those goals, I was amazed at the intent, brilliance and the model employed to arrive at those 17 goals; those goals are entwined such that when you study them carefully, you will see the common message running across each goal. In fact, the last one – Goal 17: ‘Partnership for the Goals’ affirms that.
I consider the theme, ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People’ as a tripartite conception; one that is actually designed in form of a tripod that is used in a science laboratory while heating with a Bunsen burner. Break one of the legs of the tripod and I can assure you that sitting a container to be heated will be very difficult, if not impossible. Just the same way, without ships, ports are needless and even if we have ships and ports, but they lack the capacity to positively affect or improve the lives of people, including those that operate them, then, they are not relevant.
Ships are a significant symbol of the maritime sector; when you think ships, you think transportation on waters. It is quite obvious that without ships, many parts of the world will never be effectively reached. Inadvertently, people will not be reached too. Even aviation has not been able to solve this problem because some economic items cannot be flown and the ones that can be moved by air are better done via waters since they are comparatively safer and cheaper to transport that way.
Just like I hinted earlier, ports are coastal or shoreward contact points between the land and navigable water. Ships are docked at ports, and they help transport cargoes and of course people to and from the land. I will say that this is a centre of gravity for our compound here – the ships, ports and the people. The ports are very significant to world trades. Statistics from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed that ports worldwide handle more than 70% of the entire global trade, both in terms of volume and value.
In this context, the people include those who work in ships, ports and related maritime areas. In an encompassing sense, the people mean everyone in the world that is affected or has a potential of been affected in one way or the other by the existence of the maritime world.
We cannot connect ships, ports and people if we do not first agree that there is a disconnection. Now, the question of whether or not, logistics, which include shipping and port activities, are efficient enough and are in harmony to drive sustainable economic prosperity to the people comes to bear. Coming home to Nigeria, a country that largely thrives on revenues from crude sales, the implications of a robust and virile maritime industry on the nation’s economy are quite clear.
As of this day, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – an agency under the Federal Ministry of Transport is the overseeing apex organization lawfully vested with the primary duties of dealing with all issues relating to the marine environments within the Nigerian territory. Invariably, NIMASA seats comfortably, bearing a major responsibility of improving the maritime industry.
Like other countries of the world with similar peculiarities, Nigeria is not insulated from the realities, challenges, expectations, failures and successes a maritime industry can be met with. Whatever results we get depend on our approaches and methodologies. Needless to say we have to get our acts right in order to make the best out of the blue economy.
One of the biggest areas in Nigeria’s maritime industry that needs to be looked into is the issue of security. How safe is the Nigerian waterways where ships sail? Security can define the prospect of any sector. Apart from the fact that any troubled region is not safe for any economic activities to thrive, it particularly restrains prospective investors away from such area. In the last two years, Nigeria witnessed an incredible surge in militant activities in the coastal areas of the Niger Delta – the same trouble which brought nation’s economy totally on its knee.
Commendably, the condition has improved in the last six months, but it is high time we looked inward and work a long lasting solution for this recurring ugly situation. While I cherish and will foremost recommend dialogue with any disgruntled group of people who are bent on making the country ungovernable and restive, the Nigerian government and other stakeholders, as a matter of utmost urgency need to invest on hi-tech security installations both on operational and surveillance naval ships and in various ports. This will go a very long way in improving responses to security threats and prevention of other vices like human trafficking, drug smuggling and cyber security issues. This will facilitate a smooth and unhindered relationship between shipping and port activities, hence delivering greatly to the people.
Another area that I believe requires more attention is the area of prevention and control of maritime pollution. On a global scale, the perception is that countries that are into the most production of crude oil constitute the group of the least eco-friendly nations. We can change this wrong view. It is all about proper legislation and full enforcement. The devastation witnessed on lands and waters, by plants and aquatic lives in the southern part of the country is quite real and needs to be proactively addressed.
I understand the government, under the Ministry of Environment already flagged off the Ogoni Clean Up exercise sometime ago, but sincerely, how far have we gone with the implementation? When we work with ships and in ports to achieve prosperity, the same targeted people should be confident it is not at the expense of their health, standard of living and wellbeing. Else, there is a disconnection. As a result of anthropogenetic activities, climate change stares humanity and its only habitable haven – earth in the face. We must face this challenge squarely if we must continue to live well.
One other thing that can promote Nigeria to the league of nations that have made tremendous progress in connecting ships, ports and people is embracing global best practices in our maritime industry. This application should be evident in ethical, technical and administrative aspects of the maritime sector. The reflection should also be lucid in government policies towards the industry.
I strongly believe if these highlighted concerns are well addressed, we will not only be working on identified long disconnection between ships, ports and the people; also, we will be creating a strong, robust and sustainable connection along them, which will surely translate to bigger economic prosperity for the country and its citizenry.
