By Uzor Odigbo
As a way of creating a vibrant economy, a critical stakeholder in the shipping sub-sector of the maritime industry, Sola Olatunji has called on the federal government to declare state of emergency in the maritime industry.
Olatunji, a member of the Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA) said that both maritime and textile industries had what it takes to reduce rate of employment in the country.
Olatunji who doubles as the Chairman, “Ikales In Lagos Forum” affirmed that the aforementioned industries can provide two million jobs in two years if well harnessed by the new administration adding, the sectors need to be revived for optimal utilisation.
Speaking with newsmen during the week, he advised that President Muhammadu Buhari should not delay in constituting his cabinet, saying delay in the appointment of cabinet members by President in his first term led the country into recession and hardship.
He also faulted Buhari’s fight against corruption and insecurity in the last four years of his administration.
The vibrant NISA member urged the President to hit the ground running in ensuring that appointments are made immediately after the swearing in ceremony, come May 29.
While harping on the need for the federal government to focus on the maritime industry, Olatunji averred that “President Buhari should reshuffle his cabinet immediately, and hit the ground running. We don’t need a slow president for now and if he fails to move fast based on the situation we find ourselves, then there might be revolution in the country.
“The maritime sector will only be a phenomenon to this country if Mr. President can use his position as president to carry out a holistic intervention in the industry by ensuring that those people sitting on the implementation of the cabotage laws are dealt with.
“If the President can ensure the full implementation of the law, Nigeria will be phenomenal because the sector will generate huge foreign currency for the government and nation.”
He stated that with effective manning of security personnel on the maritime space would further encourage investors to patronise the industry as foreign businesses have relocated to other parts of the region due to the high level of kidnapping and piracy on Nigerian waters.
“If the President can address the issue of joblessness of graduates from maritime institutions and academies, then piracy on Nigerian waters would be a thing of the past.”
On the need to revamp the textile sector, the marine expert stressed the need for the new government to partner twenty companies in the industry through financial aids and grant within two years.
Olatunji who is the Managing Director, Victory Energy Resources Limited , noted that the textile sector can also revolutionise the nation’s economy if the new Buhari government is sincere in ensuring unemployment reduction in Nigeria.
“If the President is sincere in the area I can tell you categorically that in another two year of his administration the statistics of unemployment would have been reduced by 60%.
“If he can focus on these two industries in two years of his administration ,then he would have addressed the welfare of sizeable number of people in the country.”
According to him, farmers, tailors, textile manufacturing companies and fashion designers, traders etc, can employ large number of Nigerian youths, pointing out that clothing production requires mass labour force.
He further called on the President to ensure that the second term in office centred on how to empower the Nigerian youths, because issues affecting unemployment must be addressed squarely.
“Nigeria population is an asset to this government the energy of the youths must be converted into production and manufacturing of goods and services and such innovation can only come through youth empowerment projects.”
He maintained that empowerment of the youths will result to tax payment by them thus earn revenue to the government.