Table of contents page(s)
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
1.2 Statement of the problem
1.3 Objectives of the study
1.4 Research questions
1.5 Hypothesis
1.6 Significance of the study
1.7 Scope of the study
1.8 Limitation of study
1.9 Methodology
CHAPTER TWO
THE IMPORTANCE OF NIGERIAN MARITIME SECURITY
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Maritime Exports
2.3 Maritime Offshore Significance
2.4 Maritime Imports
CHAPTER THREE
CHALLENGES TO NIGERIAN MARITIME SECURITY
3.1Corruption
3.2 Ill Equipped Navy
CHAPTER FOUR
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES OF NIGERIAN MARITIME SECURITY
4.1 Global Significance of Nigerian Maritime Security
4.2 Regional Confrontations to Nigerian Maritime Security
4.3 The Role of AFRICOM and Weak International Response
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION
Prospects of Security on Nigerian Maritime Domain
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abstract
The research is a contribution to the ongoing discuss on maritime fraud and its effect on competitiveness of Nigerian port. It basically makes attempt to uncover questions surrounding the significance of Nigerian maritime security. In specific terms, it assesses the challenge that makes it improbable for an effective Nigerian maritime security. Beginning with the first aspect, the evaluation centred upon the major aspects involving Nigeria’s main source of revenue within the maritime domain that makes it necessary for such economic assets to be safeguarded. The dissertation went further to have an in-depth analysis on some of the inherent domestic challenges ranging from Corruption, Ill Equipped Navy and Geography which constitute to undermining Nigeria’s efforts in curbing maritime fraud and insecurity. The research also examined the international dimensions to Nigerian maritime security first with its importance to the international trade and references to the role of AFRICOM and Weak international response from a wider international foreign policy perspective. The conclusion is an analysis of the of the possibilities of Nigeria overcoming such challenges having analysed the importance, responses, factors responsible and foreseeable solutions though with uncertainties. It argues that the importance of Nigerian maritime security cannot be overemphasised with possible persistent challenges if a radical approach is not made. A variety of secondary sources like books, book chapters, journal articles, magazines, reports and images were used in this research.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
Despite the efforts of the government of Nigeria in fighting corruption in all sector, several unwholesome activities is still going on in the maritime sector most importantly by the shipping agencies and terminal operators, under the watchful eyes of government agencies, conniving to slam fictitious charges on importers and agents in what has been described in the maritime domain as a ceaseless economic rape. The product of this organized graft, which often runs into several billions of naira annually has continued to swell the volume of the capital flight the country suffers yearly. Following this scheme, used vehicles, clothing, food items and other goods are now cheaper to buy in Cotonou, Lome and Ghana markets, than when purchased in Nigeria (Thisday, 2015).
The sour side of is anomaly is that importers and clearing agents, in their battle to survive and grow in business, later pass the prohibitive charges to the consumers who now pay far more for the goods than necessary.
According to previous findings, the terminal operators, shipping lines and shipping agents have taken advantage of the largely unregulated maritime industry in Nigeria to hike charges like demurrage, and container deposit, among others, which are at variance with what obtains in neighboring West African ports. A full analysis of shipping charges conducted in three African countries – Nigeria, Ghana and Benin Republic by a maritime industry medium, “Shipping Position,” shows that port charges in Nigerian remain the highest in the ECOWAS region. Experts have, however, attributed the high charges to the unwholesome practices among shipping companies operating at Nigerian ports. Again while it takes few days to get the container deposit refund in other ports once the empty container is returned, it may take up to three months in Nigeria because the terminal operators allegedly delay receiving it in order to build up demurrage that may eat up the deposit. Other charges not collected in other countries but obtainable in Nigeria include MOWCA levy and stamp duty (Tancott, 2015).
Importers are also perplexed that contrary to what is obtainable in other West African countries’ ports, Nigeria only offers three days free of progressive storage charge while Benin, Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire offer seven days free of progressive storage charges. Maritime experts have argued that the development was threatening the nation’s sea hub status as Cotonou, Lome and Accra ports are snatching cargoes from Nigeria. It is feared that the partial cargo drought often experienced in the country, is attributable to this development as some shipping companies prefer to call at other West African ports where they enjoy huge incentives, especially reduced charges are largely the outcome of such practices (Tancott, 2015). The soaring frequency of smuggling is because some importers may not make profit after paying all charges at the ports.
Other stakeholders like the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Immigration Service, Quarantine Service, Port Health and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) who are also part of the import chain also contribute to the delay in carrying out clearing duties and corruption at the nation’s ports. All these have made business very difficult and affected competiveness of the maritime sector in Nigeria.
Apapa in Lagos State, Nigeria contains a number of ports and terminals operated by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), including the major port of Lagos State and Lagos Port Complex (LPC). The region of Apapa lies near the mouth of Lagos lagoon, and contains ports and terminals for various commodities such as containers and bulk cargo, houses, offices and a small old disused railway station (Apapa North). It is the site of a major container terminal which was owned and operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria until March 2005, and now is operated by the Danish firm A. P. Moller-Maersk Group (Wikipedia, 2016).
1.2 Statement of the problem
Ports play a key role in the Nigeria economy and development, as nearly 75% of the trade between the Nigeria and the rest of the world is handled in ports. Thus, the importance of ensuring efficiency in ports is related to the ability of the country to be competitive at international level. Unfortunately corruption and extortion by the shipping agencies, terminal operators and the government officials has continued to frustrate importers leading to price hike of commodities, encouraged smuggling and the competiveness of Nigerian port as many importing prefer to patronize other ports in the neighboring West African countries. However, the researcher is examining the level of fraud in the maritime sector to ascertain its effect on competiveness of Nigerian port.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The following are the objectives of this study:
- To examine the level of maritime fraud in the Nigerian ports.
- To examine the effect of maritime fraud on the competiveness of Nigerian port.
- To identify how the maritime fraud can be combated.
1.4 Research questions
- What is the level of maritime fraud in the Nigerian ports?
- What is the effect of maritime fraud on the competiveness of Nigerian port?
- How can the maritime fraud can be combated?
1.5 Hypothesis
HO: There is no significant relationship between maritime fraud and competiveness of Nigeria Port
HA: There is significant relationship between maritime fraud and competiveness of Nigeria Port
1.6 Significance of the study
The following are the significance of this study:
The outcome of this study will enlighten the government of Nigeria and the general public on the spate of corruption going on in the maritime sector and how it affects the competiveness of the Nigeria port. It will also educate on approaches to combat the menace of corruption in the maritime sector.
This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area.
1.7 Scope of the study
This study will cover the level of fraud being carried out in the Nigerian maritime sector and how it affects the competitiveness of the Nigerian Ports.
1.8 Limitation of study
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.9 Methodology
This work is an ample exploration undertaken based on a survey of evidences on the fundamental theme of this research. The first task was to review existing literatures that focuses on the importance and challenges mentioned in the aims of this dissertation. Consequently, it is a detailed analysis of specific motives on which Nigeria’s challenges must have been centred upon.
I also consulted the website of the Nigerian Navy and National Defence College (NDC) Nigeria, which hosts maritime researchers like Dr. Freedom Onuoha who has been a voice on International and local Maritime security issues.
The above sources were complimented with a few international and national dailies. Also, the use of yearly and quarterly reports of the World Bank, Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House London), US Energy Information Administration and the National Bureau of Statistics in Nigeria has substantiated on the diverse economic indexes and evidences on the significance and challenges to Nigerian maritime security.
In standpoints of making logic of these resources, I offered a detailed overview of the significance of Nigeria’s maritime security upon which it has become imperative for National security. Subsequently, I analysed the varying potential perspectives that constitutes a challenge towards an effective maritime security strategy in Nigeria under different segments.
The final consideration drew a conclusion which envisages the premise and exposition of the way forward and overcoming the aforementioned challenges for Nigeria considering her new role as the leading economy in Africa.
DISCLAIMER: All project works, files and documents posted on this website, eProjectTopics.com are the property/copyright of their respective owners. They are for research reference/guidance purposes only and some of the works may be crowd-sourced. Please don’t submit someone’s work as your own to avoid plagiarism and its consequences. Use it as a reference/citation/guidance purpose only and not copy the work word for word (verbatim). The paper should be used as a guide or framework for your own paper. The contents of this paper should be able to help you in generating new ideas and thoughts for your own study. eProjectTopics.com is a repository of research works where works are uploaded for research guidance. Our aim of providing this work is to help you eradicate the stress of going from one school library to another in search of research materials. This is a legal service because all tertiary institutions permit their students to read previous works, projects, books, articles, journals or papers while developing their own works. This is where the need for literature review comes in. “What a good artist understands is that nothing comes from nowhere. The paid subscription on eProjectTopics.com is a means by which the website is maintained to support Open Education. If you see your work posted here by any means, and you want it to be removed/credited, please contact us with the web address link to the work. We will reply to and honour every request. Please notice it may take up to 24 – 48 hours to process your request.
