The Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), has called on the federal government to embrace local content guidelines in the establishment of an ecosystem around ship building in Nigeria.
SOAN led by its President, Dr. Mkgeorge O. Onyung made the plea during a high-value visit to the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,Timipre Sylva in Abuja .
In a statement signed by Garba Deen Muhammad , GGM/SA Media Office of the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Abuja, the conversation centered on the need to synergize on building an ecosystem around shipbuilding that can align with global standards while embracing local content guidelines.
The President of SOAN, Dr. Onyung in his impact statement revealed that the association was keen on floating a Ship Repair Centre in Nigeria under a PPP arrangement while currently exploring ways to cement a proposed consortium that will scale individual company efforts in providing cargo lifting service.
In furtherance, the First Vice President, Mr. Eno J. Williams noted that in covering the broad spectrum of its core objectives, SOAN is deeply focused on working towards fostering and revamping the ecosystem that it operates in.
On his part the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources ,Timipre Sylva encouraged the visiting team to open a communication channel that will ensure seamless synergy and foster collaborations.
He further stated that deep collaborations will offer the opportunity to look beyond the current operational challenges of the players in the business to deliver solutions that will close all gaps.
Sylva noted that the collaboration will cement the priority agenda to work assiduously to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his poise to raise millions of Nigerians out of poverty via job creation.
The visiting team comprised of its President Dr. Mkgeorge O. Onyung; First Vice President of the Association, Mr. Eno J. Williams; Chairman, Technical Committee, Dr. Lucky Akhiwu, Founding Member, Dr. Emi Member-Otaji and erstwhile member, Gbenga Sokefun.
