Aminu Umar, the Managing Director of Sea Transport Group and President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, discussed challenges in Nigeria's maritime sector in an interview. Regarding the suspension of the Cabottage fund by the House of Representatives, Umar mentioned that he did not participate in the meeting with the Nigerian Indigenous Shipowners Association, so he was unaware of the outcome. However, he had discussions with some shipowners who were shocked by the suspension and unaware of the reasons behind it. He also mentioned that the current administration's tenure is ending soon, limiting the actions that can be taken before May 29.

On the topic of deep seaports, Umar emphasized the need for port development in Nigeria, including deep seaports. He acknowledged that larger ships require deep seaports, and Nigeria currently has ports in Rivers, Calabar, Ibom, Lekki, and Badagry, with the Ondo Deep Seaport being planned. Considering projections of Nigeria's population reaching 450 million by 2050, Umar emphasized the necessity of port development to accommodate the growing population.

Regarding the maintenance of existing ports, Umar highlighted the need for significant investments, especially in terminals that are in a deteriorated state. He suggested that the private sector, now responsible for the ports, should be encouraged to invest more by reducing the responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and allowing the private sector to seek funds for investment.

source; punchng.com
https://punchng.com/nigeria-needs-more-deep-seaports-shipping-chamber-president/