The Federal Government is set to establish a shipyard for building ships in the country, the Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, has said.
He said the project, which had received the approval of the necessary authorities, would arrest capital flight as new ships and ship docking services would be available in the country.
Akpobolokemi, in a statement obtained by our correspondent on Friday, also stated that the private sector would be involved in the management of the shipyard.
He added that it would have facilities for dry docking ocean vessels.
The DG said, “We will not only build ships, with a facility for dry docking in the shipyard, we are bringing in the private sector because we want to avoid the pitfall that goes with government single handedly handling this kind of business.
“Our belief is that if it is successfully completed and managed, we will not only create employment opportunities but also arrest capital flight as many vessels calling in Nigerian ports will now have a facility for dry docking instead of going elsewhere to do it.”
The move was expected to generate employment opportunities for the youth, and ultimately improve the nation’s economy, the DG stated.
Akpobolokemi also said the development of a shipyard would enable cadets to have an avenue for practical experience.
He also stated that the agency would continue to intensify the building of capacity in the maritime sector.
For instance, he recalled the recent funding of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron, Akwa Ibom State as well as the establishment of more academies in other parts of the country, and a maritime university approved by the National Assembly.
This, he said, was in addition to the establishment of the Institute of Maritime Studies in in selected universities across the six geo-political zones in the country.
With the development, he noted that Nigeria was on course to becoming a strong force in the maritime sector.