20 foreign shipping companies operating in Nigeria have reportedly left the country, leaving over 3000 of their staff unemployed. According to the President of the Dockworkers Union of Nigeria (DUN), Anthony Emmanuel Nted, the Federal government's importation policy is largely responsible for the closure of some of the shipping businesses.
The Federal government have put a ban on the importation of some commodities as part of efforts to revive the economy.
"The current government policy on importation though with the best intention seems to be wreaking more havoc on the economy and ought to be reviewed urgently" he told Guardian
He urged the Federal Government to review the ban on the importation of rice, wheat, vehicle spare parts and industrial machinery until the nation is able to produce for local consumption. Nted added that the failure to do this would encourage smuggling, diversion of ships to neighboring countries, idle ports, retrenchment of workers, unemployment and general loss of revenue to government.
Some of the companies that have left the country include Mitsui O.S.K Line, Nippon Yusen Kasha, Taiwan's Evergreen Line, Messina Line, Hapag-Lloyd and Gold Star Line (GSL), among others.
