The Director-General, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside, has said the agency will ensure the Cabotage Act is fully implemented.
This is contained in a statement by NIMASA’s Head of Corporate Communications Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Monday, in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cabotage Act is also known as the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003.
According to the statement, the director-general said this when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, led by the National President, Mr Matthew Alalade, in Lagos.
Peterside said proper regulation of the Cabotage Act was instrumental to the development of the maritime sector, adding that Nigerians must be encouraged to be key players in the sector.
He said the issue of abuse of waivers would be checked.
“We have not realized the full potential of the Cabotage Act but we have moved a step ahead.
“Just to be sure that we are committed to the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, issues relating to waiver abuse are being dealt with accordingly,” NAN quotes the director-general as saying.
Peterside also said the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) would only be disbursed to those who would use it well.
He said applicants must have the requisite criteria as beneficiaries.
“We will rigorously screen applicants of the CVFF to ensure the funds are disbursed to people who would use it for purposes the funds are meant for,” the director-general added.
Peterside said the agency “is screening maritime institutions, and would only accredit ones that can provide the training required in line with global best practices.”
He, however, noted that NIMASA was not in a position to recognize any Merchant Navy Association as that function fell under the purview of the National Assembly.
Earlier, the association decried the abuse of waivers in the implementation of the Cabotage Act.
It requested the management of NIMASA to find ways of reviewing the Act to pave the way for indigenous operators to be more involved in coastal and inland trade in Nigeria.
The association also sought greater collaboration with NIMASA, especially in the areas of maritime regulatory decision making and human capacity building for the growth and development of the industry.
This is contained in a statement by NIMASA’s Head of Corporate Communications Hajia Lami Tumaka, on Monday, in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Cabotage Act is also known as the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003.
According to the statement, the director-general said this when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association, led by the National President, Mr Matthew Alalade, in Lagos.
Peterside said proper regulation of the Cabotage Act was instrumental to the development of the maritime sector, adding that Nigerians must be encouraged to be key players in the sector.
He said the issue of abuse of waivers would be checked.
“We have not realized the full potential of the Cabotage Act but we have moved a step ahead.
“Just to be sure that we are committed to the full implementation of the Cabotage Act, issues relating to waiver abuse are being dealt with accordingly,” NAN quotes the director-general as saying.
Peterside also said the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) would only be disbursed to those who would use it well.
He said applicants must have the requisite criteria as beneficiaries.
“We will rigorously screen applicants of the CVFF to ensure the funds are disbursed to people who would use it for purposes the funds are meant for,” the director-general added.
Peterside said the agency “is screening maritime institutions, and would only accredit ones that can provide the training required in line with global best practices.”
He, however, noted that NIMASA was not in a position to recognize any Merchant Navy Association as that function fell under the purview of the National Assembly.
Earlier, the association decried the abuse of waivers in the implementation of the Cabotage Act.
It requested the management of NIMASA to find ways of reviewing the Act to pave the way for indigenous operators to be more involved in coastal and inland trade in Nigeria.
The association also sought greater collaboration with NIMASA, especially in the areas of maritime regulatory decision making and human capacity building for the growth and development of the industry.
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