The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has charged oil companies operating in country and other operators on the nation’s waterways to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Cabotage Act, saying it will no longer entertain application of any form for waivers under the Act.
The agency’s , Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, gave this charge while speaking during a meeting with the Oil Producers Trade Sector (OPTS) in Lagos, adding that granting any form of waiver is not in the interest of the nation’s economy.
In a statement on the latest stance of government on the issue, the agency’s spokesman, Isichei Osamgbi quoted the Director General as advising the maritime operators to draw up a five-year strategic plan for the cessation of application for Cabotage waiver and also pursue the utilization of Nigerian-owned vessels for marine contracts.
Peterside stated: “Our laws forbid foreign vessels operating in our territorial waters save for compliance with the Cabotage Act.
“We also want to increase the number of Nigerians who participate in the marine aspect of your business and we are working closely with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to have a joint categorization of vessels operating under the Cabotage Act in order to ensure the full implementation of the Act”, he added.
Peterside urged the international oil companies (IOCs) to also support NIMASA’splan to ensure full implementation of the Act in view of the potential benefits to the investors in the sector.
On the previous resolutions with the OPTS, the industry regulator pointed out that there was need for the trade section of the oil producers to fulfill their own part of the agreement.
He maintained that NIMASA would not compromise the growth of the maritime sector, especially when it relates to the enforcement of statutory regulations as enshrined in the agency’s empowering instruments.
According to him, NIMASA will not hesitate to apply appropriate sanctions when necessary in its efforts to grow the industry since the agency’s mandate is strictly regulatory.
The NIMASA boss clarified further: “We don’t want to change our rules of engagement to a confrontational one because the mandate we have is that of the Nigerian people, to grow shipping for our economic benefits. In this wise, we urge you to cooperate and collaborate with us where necessary so that we can have an all-inclusive maritime sector.”
Peterside noted that the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP), which is a skill-building intervention programme of the agency, was making serious headway in engaging the over 2,000 graduates of the programme.
