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By Joel Anaekwe
The Marine Club of Nigeria, an umbrella association of professionals, practitioners and stakeholders in the Nigerian maritime economy has called for a synergy with the Rivers State Government towards the development of a free trade zone in Port Harcourt.
President of the club, Dr. Chinedu Jideofo-Ogbuagu, said the creation of the free zone would increase the much needed maritime activities not only at the Port Harcourt port but across the city and boost maritime economy, safety and security in the state.
The free trade zone, he also said, will provide mooring facilities and serve as operational base of the club`s operational mother vessels ‘MV MCN’ and other vessels.
He told some journalists in Port Harcourt that the club has presented a letter to the Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, requesting for allocation of waterfront for the creation of the free trade zone.
He also requested for partnership with the government adding that though they were initially chased away by militancy and insecurity in the state but they were now encouraged to return following “the improved security in Rivers State under your (Wike) watch.”
“Our return to Port Harcourt and partnership with your government will mean return to vigorous pursuit of our original vision of Port Harcourt as the maritime-economy hub of Nigeria and the West Coast of Africa. Increasing activities plus a cooperative Rivers State Government will lead to increased maritime economy, safety and security in the state. More importantly, as the economy of Rivers State is up to 90% maritime in nature, increased activities in the maritime sector of the state will rapidly increase employment and wealth creation in the state, which would mean greater well-being across the board for all Rivers people,” he stated.
Justifying their belief and request, Dr. Jideofo-Ogbuagu insisted that free trade zones are veritable means of accelerated development of any economy, stressing that the major reason for the quick economic growth of the BRICS countries is the development of free trade zones.
He said: “maritime economy constitutes between 60-75 percent of the entire global economy. If you get it right through free trade zone Rivers State will not only be the maritime hub of Nigeria, but that of the West Coast of Africa. Port Harcourt is supposed to be by far ahead of Lagos because 90 percent of its economy is maritime. And I have the capacity and connections, globally to bring renowned ship builders to Port Harcourt. We are not paying attention to maritime development. Give us a waterfront land, they are fallow and developers will be here”.
He debunked the fear of competition saying that Port Harcourt alone can host as many as 20 free trade zones, noting that Lagos has 35 of such licensed trade zones but that currently 10 are very active.
