The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has explained his plans for the revival of the various sectors in the nation’s economy. According to the former Kano State governor who spoke to reporters in Lagos recently, his plans are crucial for the survival of the nation’s economy. Emmanuel Udodinma reports
THE presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has promised that it will not be business as usual in the nation’s economy, especially the maritime sector, if he is elected as president next year. Kwankwaso made the pledge at a town hall meeting with Maritime stakeholders in Lagos recently. He said Nigeria needs a robust plan for the future of its maritime sector because it remains crucial to the growth and survival of the nation’s economy.
Senator Kwankwaso said a speedy rehabilitation and decongestion of the Apapa port access road in Lagos State is the first step towards the revival of the sector. He said the country really needs to plan for the future of the maritime sector to add to the growth of the economy. His words: “I have listened to this wonderful audience and have noted your expectations. I can tell you that I am aware of most of the challenges facing the sector presently. One of such, for instance, is congestion on port access roads in Apapa.
”It may interest you to know that in one of my visits to Lagos, I was in Apapa and was stunned at the spectacle of articulated trucks lining the Ijora Bridge. To me, it is an unacceptable eyesore in 21st-century Nigeria. I was even made to understand that I came when things had improved. This is highly unacceptable. A port system originally designed for a population of fewer than 50 million people in the 1950s, with less than 2.0 million cargo throughputs has remained almost the same for more than 200 million populations in 2022.
“When a country’s population is increasing at geometric progression and port infrastructure remains static, the resultant effect is chaos. To me, that is the cause of the Ijora Bridge debacle and other issues. So many things have gone wrong with the industry.” The NNPP flag bearer said that his experience over the years as a former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, former governor, former minister of defence and a former senator has provided him with some basic understanding of the maritime sector, especially some of its challenges.
Senator Kwankwaso said it is his desire to see that the Nigeria Customs Service and other regulatory agencies be made to perform efficiently and effectively. He added: “I have observed that there is a high level of corruption in the system. This must be tackled if productivity is to improve in the ports.” The NNPP candidate said there is a need for effective border checks and control to stem the tide of smuggling and its related security implications. He said: “Indeed, the entry points into Nigeria shall attract the desired attention of my administration if elected the president.
The desired assistance to all importers of goods, manufacturers, including exporters and other ancillary stakeholders associated with port operations and management will be guaranteed under our party’s regime, by the special grace of God! Suffice it to say that the NNPP as a party has its blueprint for the economy for which maritime and transport logistics are incorporated.” Kwankwaso, who assured the stakeholders of attention if elected, called for their support to win next year’s election to create a new and better Nigeria.
While stressing that the NNPP had a blueprint for the economy, the maritime sector inclusive, the former Kano State governor requested the stakeholders to form the nucleus that would be responsible for designing a workable and actionable Maritime Sector Reform Template. He said that such a template should include clearance of goods arriving at our ports within 72 hours as done in other countries, tackling privacy within the country’s territorial waters and the entire Gulf of Guinea, and clearing of ports of pollution because of discharge from ships.
He added: “Our government will look into the position of constructing a rail line from both Apapa and Tin Can Island ports to a dry port area outside Lagos, where arrived goods should be domiciled for clearance in order to stop heavy trucks from causing gridlocks in Lagos.We should also look into the possibility of opening other ports such as Warri, Port Harcourt, Calabar, etc in order to decongest the Lagos port. In addition, I can assure you that it will no longer be business as usual, under our watch, maritime professionals will take charge of the maritime sector.”
Chairman of the occasion, Kunle Folarin, had set the tone for the discussion when he noted that Nigeria has the greatest potential with its maritime industry and that what the country needs to do to shore up her development potential is to maximize the utilisation of her resources, such as the 900 nautical miles of coastline, 572 inland waterways and 10,000km of navigable waterways.
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the NNPP, Boniface Aniebonam, also assured the people of the Southeast geo-political zone that the NNPP presidential candidate will cater for their interests if given a chance to govern the country. Aniebonan said the town hall meeting was put together specifically to unveil the party’s maritime agenda if Senator Kwakwaso is elected next year as Nigeria’s next president.
The NNPP stalwart said part of the party’s major focus if elected into power next year, is the maritime sector, where Igbos are in the majority. He said a huge number of Igbos are into the import and export of goods and services in the maritime industry, hence the need to support the NNPP presidential candidate. Aniebonam said that the NNPP was entering into a social contract with the stakeholders to bring about a new order. His words: “It is time for a new order in the maritime sector. We have a presidential candidate that does not have any baggage.”
The NNPP founder said that the party has been working quietly to set up structures to create a new order in the maritime sector and the country. He urged the stakeholders to be part of the journey to the emergence of a new Nigeria and start work from the inside to build a new Nigeria. The NNPP National Chairman, Prof. Rufai Alkali said the vision, mission and commitment of the party are to liberate Nigeria and Nigerians and to build a country everyone would be proud of.
He said the party is ready to make sure that the issue of the economy, security, poverty and others are taken care of. He said: “We are looking at Nigeria as a whole; a country where there will be inclusion and where no section of the country will be left behind. The NNPP is the fastest-growing political party in Nigeria. “We need a better Nigeria for our children and grandchildren and that is what the NNPP is all about: a new party, new face, and new direction to push the country forward.
“The NNPP is not a regional party as pronounced by some people; it is a party that will make sure that the issue of security, education and others are taken care of. The maritime industry is also in focus, and we will ensure that things are put in place.” The town hall meeting had several stakeholders in the maritime industry, as well as many leaders and candidates of the NNPP across the federation in attendance.