The Chairman,Nige-ria Maritime Expo (NIMAREX) 2012 Planning Committee, Eze Chijioke Egwuagu Collins, last week observed that Nigeria's poor participation in the annual importation of 12 billion refined petroleum products was costing the country billions of Naira, and called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to reverse the trend.Explaining why Nigeria had remained poor despite being a major crude exporter, the seasoned industry operator grieved that Nigeria as an import-dependent nation had not only failed to harness it's endowments, but also refused to encourage the tapping of available opportunities in the upstream and downstream sectors with unimaginable consequences on youth unemployment and well being.He maintained that with the country's import volume of over 82 million tons of cargo in 2008, 93.7 million tons in 2009 and 100 million tons in 2010, Nigeria had a remarkable window of opportunities to entrench her indigenous players as core operators in the crude petroleum movement industry, and overnight, create genuine economic fortunes for the entire country.'International oil companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria export about 40 million barrels of crude oil per month or 480 million barrels per annum. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on behalf of the Nigerian government exports 40 million barrels of crude oil per month or 480 million barrels per annum' he indicated, noting that with the country having a liquefied natural gas (LNG) reserve of over 7 trillion cubic meters, Nigeria had a mandate for the provision of LNG tankers, for the non-stop massive shipment of LNG annually; aside from other economic opportunities in the LNG offshore exploration, whose operations presently employ about 520 marine equipment, tug boats, crew vessels and barges.He lauded the ongoing effort of President Goodluck Jonathan, in the enactment of the oil and gas Local Content Act, and assured Nigerians that NIMAREX 2012 would fuel the government's vision, acting as a launch-pad, so as to ensure broader participation, while also tasking well-meaning investors to come out, support and move the maritime industry forward, in a determined way.He stated further, that NIMAREX which debuted in the first quarter of this year with a record of huge success, was primarily set up to serve as the viable platform to showcase the nation's enormous maritime potentials to the rest of the world, as well as encourage more Nigerians' participation in the industry.He posited further, that NIMAREX 2012, would 'provide the needed avenue to showcase maritime products, new technologies, service and expertise, as well as provide the platform to unlock various business opportunities in Nigeria's largely unexploited maritime sector', stressing that with the present volume of maritime trade and required marine equipment, Nigeria qualifies to be a short sea-trade hub of West Africa, a dream he insisted was no longer far from being achieved.
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