The Dredgers Association of Nigeria urged the Federal Government yesterday to provide incentives to indigenous dredging operators to enable them compete with foreign counterparts, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The Association’s Executive Secretary, Richard Ntang , said that the incentives are necessary because their foreign counterparts could send them out of business.
“ Government should create an enabling environment for indigenous dredging operators to work at par with their foreign counterparts that have almost driven them out of business, ” Ntang said.
“The foreign operators are monopolizing the sector; they are a threat to local competitors that have been in the market before their arrival. The tax holiday and other generous incentives should also be given to local operators.”
The Secretary said that the dredging sector was economically important to the nation for infrastructural development and job creation.