Ship Chandlers seek FG intervention

Chandlers’under the aegis of Nigerian Licensed Ships Chandlers’ Association, NLSCA, have cried to the federal government to come to their aid over the complete take – over of their business by foreign operators.

Chandlers in the maritime industry are responsible for the supply of food, beverages, maintenance

and other allied services to ships that call at local ports and it is mostly handled by indigenes of the port where such vessels berth. The Chandlers explained that the gradual takeover of the business over the years have finally rendered its members redundant.

They noted that they have been crying out to the relevant government agencies to come to their aid, but all their cries had fallen on deaf ears.

Disclosing this in Lagos, the President of the association, Beatrice Ede Ogbumuo, said

though the law of the land gave them exclusive authority to render chandelling services onboard vessels, only about 10 percent are actually handled by NLSCA members, while the remaining 80 percent are handled by expatriates.

The association which has about 20,000 membership strength, also said the activities of security agents consisting of the Army, Navy, Police, are hindering their operations with its attendant delays and unnecessary interventions .

Ogbumuo also explained that, the menace of pirates on the high seas has been hindering their business. Ogbumuo, who became the National President of the association about a month ago, also stated that efforts are being put in place to reshape the association.

According to her, “Too many challenges have been facing the association which includes finance and insecurity. These have made it difficult for our members to supply even when they are lucky to get jobs.”

The expatriates have taken over all the jobs which Nigerians are supposed to do. Our members are just there and our members are just there lamenting about the system because less than 10 percent are working. We are the people who are really doing the job.

The security situation along the waterways is affecting our jobs because most times we go to the sea to supply and on your way to the sea, the whole lot of security agencies are there- the Customs, the Immigration, the Navy, the Police etc, and you know what it means. “People are really having problems.

These days, even if you get the job, the urge to do it is no longer there unlike before. Ogbumuo explained that chandelling is not only about supplying tomatoes or fresh and other things, “we supply virtually everything in the vessel, there are a whole lot of things you supply because you must eat, you must maintain the vessel and for you to do that you must be a licensed ship chandler.

“But a whole lot of people who are doing it now are unlicensed, which is not good for the association and it is also not good for the business. We are trying to create awareness.”

She solicited the support of the government. She also said that the association intends to set up a training school where intending chandlers must pass through to enhance their performances.