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Stakeholders described the new ministry as a dream come true because maritime practitioners, including licensed customs agents and master mariners, had been yearning for the creation of a separate ministry to oversee maritime affairs.

These stakeholders believed that maritime is bigger than aviation and that it contributes to the nation’s gross domestic product more than aviation does, therefore, it deserved a separate ministry like aviation.

In 2018, the Chairman, of Seaport Terminal Operators of Association of Nigeria, Vicky Hasstrup, while speaking at an interactive session organised by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport in Lagos, blamed inconsistent policies of the government for the woes of the sector. Also at the event, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbokogba, called for the creation of a maritime ministry to address the problem facing the industry.

“The maritime sector is bigger than the aviation sector but does not have a ministry. If we don’t have a policy plan, nothing will happen,” Agbakoba was quoted as saying.

The pioneer Chairman of the Nigeria Shipowners Association, Isaac Jolapamo, said the Federal Government did not show any sign of seriousness to the development of the shipping industry, as evident in its policy somersault and inconsistency.

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