Hassan Bello, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council and Chairman Nigerian Fleet Implementation has revealed that Nigeria loses $1.9bn annually to foreign ship owners.
Bello gave this information during an official visit of Nigerian Fleet Implementation Committee to the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari while seeking the support of subsidiaries under the corporation towards engaging indigenous shipping companies in their businesses.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC expressed the corporation’s readiness to support indigenous fleet owners to enjoy greater patronage and participation in the oil and gas maritime business in Nigeria.
Kyari said with the scale of the Corporation’s activities in the maritime sector, NNPC would get more active in the affairs of the Fleet Management Committee with a view to strengthening the synergy between the Corporation and the private sector.
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“We believe in this process, we will ensure that Nigerian ships enjoy a greater patronage in the business henceforth,” Kyari assured.
He urged NNPC to grant local shipping companies the right of first refusal in crude oil lifting contracts, saying it would help grow the economy and sustain their businesses.
The Chairman noted that the Committee was set up three years ago by the Federal Ministry of Transportation with a mandate to promote Nigerian ownership of ships and vessels to enable local companies take control of the shipping business which is in line with the economic diversification policy of the Federal Government.
