A former Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Ade Dosunmu, has advised the federal government to run away from the errors of the past in thinking of setting up new shipping and running it.
In an interview in Lagos, he said the best option for the government is to avail the private sector up to 60 5 controlling shares, leaving the rest for the government.
He said“This time, the private sector should occupy 60 per cent position, while government should hold 40 per cent shares to give room for more foreign investors to participate.
“NLNG is a success story because it was Public Private Partnership (PPP) driven.
“Nigeria is a shipping nation with huge maritime potential but government should ensure that the shipping line is more controlled by the private sector,” he said.
While commending the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, for taking steps to drive the refloating ot a national fleet, he urged him to ensure that the revival of the national shipping line should be private sector- driven to achieve its set objectives.
He revealed that “the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) was liquidated because government was controlling it”.
According to him, “the Ministry of Transportation needs to engage the services of entrepreneurs to bring more technical partners from outside the country”.
He said that there was need for national shipping line due to the fact that Nigeria is blessed with hydrocarbon resources because “Nigeria lifts crude oil on daily basis”.
