In line with its mandates of promoting maritime safety and building indigenous commercial shipping capacity for international and coastal shipping, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe shipping on Nigerian waterways.
Dakuku Peterside, director-general of NIMASA said the recent signing of the Suppression of Piracy and other Maritime Offences Bill (Anti Piracy Bill) into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in June 2019, was geared towards dealing with the menace of piracy and related crimes in the Nigerian maritime domain.
Peterside stated this at the September 2019 Members’ Evening of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria with the theme, “The Activities of the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.”
He said that currently the NIMASA Act 2007, Merchant Shipping Act 2007 and Cabotage Act 2003 as well as regulations made pursuant thereto are being reviewed.
“The Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003 is meant to increase indigenous capacity in tonnage, manning, building, and ownership of ships,” said Peterside, who was represented by Ahmed Gambo, executive director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Services of NIMASA.
Peterside stated that yearly Certificate of Competency (CoC) examination is conducted at the Maritime Academy, Oron leading to the issuance of different categories of CoC to successful candidates.
“However, to maintain high standards and give credibility to the CoC issued by NIMASA and to sustain the CoC online verification portal, the agency is working out modalities on external audit of all its examiners,” he said.
He said that in 2017, NIMASA introduced the new Cabotage Compliance Strategy (CCS) for a successful coastal and inland trade regime, thereby halting consideration of application for grant of waiver on manning for prescribed category of officers on vessels engaged in Cabotage trade. “The New Cabotage Compliance Strategy has ensured that a significant number of seafarers are on board different Cabotage vessels.
“NIMASA is currently engaging with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board to drive the 5-year Strategic Plan for cessation of grant of Cabotage waivers as this is geared towards building capacity in the maritime industry and to harmonise the enforcement processes of both agencies, in driving compliance with the Cabotage Act 2003,” he added.
Chris Okunowo, the president and chairman governing council of the IoD, said the strategic importance of the Nigerian maritime sector to the growth and stability of the economy is attested to by its value in the upstream sector of the oil industry.
“Nigeria, with its vast water resources and a prospect to generate over $8 billion yearly, has a maritime sector that has the resources to propel the desired growth in the nation’s economy,” he stated.
SEYI JOHN SALAU
