Customs Makes Case For Local Content In Ship Building

By Roland Ekama 

As part of measures to promote indigenous operators , the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has canvassed for the government to encourage and support local content in ship building in the country,

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi on Thursday, called on Nigerians to focus on local vessel production as a veritable tool of bridging the gap on the longevity of foreigners.

.
Adeniyi stated this at the Annual Maritime Finance Conference organised by the Association of Maritime Journalists of Nigeria (AMJON) in conjunction with the NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) in Lagos.

Adeniyi who was represented at the event by Comptroller Dera Nnadi, Customs Area Controller,Tin Island Command NCS, said that vessel construction needed to be given necessary supports in the country.

According to him, Customs introduced barge operations to ease movement of cargoes in a little way which later because a large investment in the maritime industry.

He said, “We should look inwards particularly at this time we are experiencing scare resources, Mr. President is encouraging us to look inwards and encourage home grown technology to move forward.

“We need to appreciate locally constructed vessels. We don’t need to wait until we build bigger vessels before we can exercise our expertise.

“We can’t wait until we have bigger forces to construct bigger vessels, we can start with smaller ones, the lower hanging fruits,” the CGC said.

According to him, “In order to support and sustain such move such low hanging fruit as construction of smaller and local vessels need to be encouraged especially now that the president has given the needed support.