Stakeholder urges FG to stop project

A maritime stakeholder, Mr

Egesi, a maritime economist and former Director-General of the defunct Nigerian Maritime Authority (NMA) gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

NAN reports that the Federal Government rather, intends to approve the establishment of a transport university.

The expert said that the focus of government should be to develop the maritime sector rather than embarking on a project that had little value to the industry.

``The Maritime University project? It’s a big no for me. What do we need that for? Where are the products going to work? Where is the shipping traffic?

``We should not just establish the institution because we want a Maritime University.

``What we need to do is to develop the industry so that we can be a competitive player in international trade,’’ he said.

The expert said that existing maritime institutions in the country could be strengthened to provide the right expertise as a strategy to improve the sector.

Egesi also stressed the need for government to enhance local manufacturing capacities to enable them produce quality exportable products.

He explained that increased exports from the country would boost maritime activities in the country, improving the nation`s earnings from international trade.

The expert said that there was the need to strengthen maritime institutions to enable them live up to their statutory responsibilities.