The Commissioner of Transport in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Orman Esin, has called for the reinforcement of existing laws in the marine sector to stimulate the state’s economy.
During a meeting with the correspondents chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Uyo, Esin expressed regret that the state government has missed out on as much as 5% of revenue due to the presence of weak or inadequate legislation.
He added that the state government has suffered revenue losses to oil companies operating in the state, asserting that their activities fall under the Federal Government’s exclusive jurisdiction. As a result, the Ministry of Transport has established a local content committee to devise strategies in addressing this issue.
“The primary hurdle we face is the absence of laws that should benefit Akwa Ibom state. This was one of the reasons behind my courtesy visit to the State Chief Judge. Some of the laws falling under the Federal Government’s exclusive jurisdiction hinder the operation of the Akwa Ibom marine sector. According to these laws, any operation conducted 200 nautical miles away from the shoreline is the sole responsibility of the Federal Government.”
“However, the question remains: where does the 200 nautical miles begin? The operations of these oil and gas companies take place within the territorial waters of Akwa Ibom. However, they choose to evade the state government’s legal framework regarding revenue generation and tax payment by claiming to be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government. They do not wish to be monitored by the state government, which is why they assert that they fall under the FG exclusive list.”
“This has become a significant issue for me. Consequently, I am proposing a bill to address this matter. This is the objective of the Ministry. I will pay a visit to the speaker to discuss the implementation of a viable bill for the Akwa Ibom State Marine. Although a bill has been passed, it lacks proper documentation.”
Esin emphasized the potential of the blue economy and the fact that Akwa Ibom State has only harnessed 5% of the benefits due to the absence of robust legislation. To address this, the Ministry of Transport will inaugurate a local content committee.
In addition, Esin revealed that his ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Internal Security to combat instances of insecurity and piracy in the waterways.
Furthermore, he disclosed that the state government has entered into a partnership with the Nigerian Navy to develop marine transportation, providing an alternative route to road transportation.
The Commissioner also mentioned that the Nigerian Navy has submitted designs for ferries and cargo boats intended to operate from Oron to Calabar. The construction of these vessels is expected to be completed within six months.
