Cabotage: NIMASA Applauds MAN, Oron Alumni, Outlines Gains Of In-country Ship- building
Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside
If Nigeria starts to build ships, it will lead to improvement in skills acquisition, employment creation, retention of scarce foreign exchange as well as forced improvement in the rate of infrastructural development. It will also result in more players getting involved in the numerous businesses the downstream sector has to offer.
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside said this in Lagos today at the ongoing maritime stakeholders’ forum organized by the Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria Oron (AMANO). The event whose theme is Cabotage Act: 16 Years After, brought together the creme de la creme of the shipping industry in Nigeria to take a critical review of the Cabotage Act and to determine whether the focus, and direction of the Act after being operational for about 16 years have been in line with the aims and objectives. Are the objectives being achieved? What are the challenges? What are being done to overcome the challenges?What is the way forward?
In trying to ally with views in certain quarters that the Act is already succeeding in improving the general landscape despite scathing criticisms, Peterside said seven years ago, there was no single Nigerian seafarer on any international ocean-going vessel. But today, he stated, Nigeria is the only African country with the largest number of seafarers listed on-board international vessels. “As at today, Maerskline has 34 Nigerian seafarers on-board her international vessels. No other African country has been able to achieve that.” On the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), he lauded the initiative even as he admitted that the implementation has not been thorough.
He regretted that within 16 years of operating the Cabotage Act, Nigeria has not been able to build vessels in- country owing to certain challenges. These have to do with the economy, power supply issues, absence of an aluminum and steel industry, defective supporting infrastructure, dearth of skilled labor in ship building and other factors. He restated that if Nigeria starts building ships, it will lead to improvement in skills acquisition, creation of employment, retention of scarce foreign exchange, infrastructural improvement and attraction of more players in the downstream sector of the shipping industry. Collaboration and cooperation remain the greatest thing required if the intent and aspirations of the Cabotage Act are to be achieved, he insisted.
The NIMASA boss said the alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, owes Nigeria a responsibility to give direction and enlightenment on the limitless opportunities in seafaring and the need to encourage the nautical school to always work to fulfil her mandate as the apex maritime training institution.
“NIMASA is determined to reposition Nigeria’s ship registry. We have initiated the project; there is the commencement of the cessation of the granting of waivers,” he announced. From 2020 going forward, certain categories of vessels will be barred from entering Nigeria as they must be built in-country. He told the audience that presently, special facilities and incentives are being packaged to favour those who are bringing vessels into Nigeria.
On the part of indigenous ship owners and other key players, he commended them for remaining afloat in the face of a harsh business environment. He noted that despite lack of incentives to operate and compete with their foreign counterparts, they are still surviving, holding their heads high.
