The question has often been asked about why Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, does not have a national shipping line. The validity of this question must be viewed against the background of what having a flag carrier could mean to the country’s economy, and what the country is missing from not having one and, is therefore not actively participating in maritime business that accounts...

The seafarer’s role in the maritime industry is a complex and a highly crucial one. Call him/her the unsung hero of maritime and you won’t be wrong. He/she is probably the most important component of the maritime value chain, perhaps second only to the ship that serves as the vehicle that enables the industry to operate. But because of the general ignorance of his/her role, the seafarer’...

The maritime industry is a goldmine. However, in Nigeria, it is a goldmine that has remained largely untapped because, to a large extent, an integral part of the industry – shipping development – has been dogged by challenges over a long time. No country can hope to participate and derive full economic benefits from the maritime sector without strong footing in shipping development. In f...

Commercial intercourse or trade among nations of the world has been growing in volume, value, and sophistication over the years. Interestingly, over 80 per cent of world trade is seaborne. This suggests that the maritime environment is the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg with respect to world trade. Therefore, there must be security around this goose to ensure that nothing unto...

Around the world, safety and security are two issues that must be given optimum consideration for maritime businesses to thrive. Both are interwoven and one cannot be considered without the other. In Nigeria, consideration for both issues is no less important. For the country’s maritime environment to be conducive for business, its territorial waters must be devoid of criminals like p...