Body Canvasses Support For Maritime Policies

Amaritime organisation, Dredge Skills and Marine Training
Centre Ltd, has urged dredging contractors to support government policies aimed
at checking project failures in the maritime sector.

A statement issued by the organisation on Monday said the
call was necessary to remind various marine project handlers of the Federal
Government’s determination to transform the maritime sector by promoting
quality projects.

Signed by Mr Edmund Chilaka, National Coordinator of the
organisation, the statement also urged contractors to involve increased level
of local content in the execution of dredging contracts.

It said that the organisation would hold a dredging
conference and exhibition in September in Abuja where it would confer awards on
Westminster Dredging Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Ports Authority, among others.

The statement said the award would encourage stakeholders in
capacity development of younger Nigerian companies and individual dredging
operators to achieve higher level of local content in the award of contracts.

It said the events would also feature tips on how to raise
awareness of policymakers and government officials on the need to avoid project
failures.

“The stakeholders will, at the end of the award, be able to
articulate the gains of manpower training for Nigerian workers in the industry
and the use of a credible registered association for local operators and
contractors,’’ it added.

Speakers at the event, according to the statement, include
Sen. Idris Umar, the Minister of Transport, and Mr Olusegun Aganga, Minister of
Trade and Investment, among others.