By Anthony Chidubem
In a move to sanitise the local shipping sector, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has begun the immediate enforcement of the statutory requirements for indigenous participation in Cabotage trade and maritime activities.
This move, according to the agency, is aimed at entrenching maritime governance and ensuring that jobs meant for Nigerians are not outsourced.
In a marine notice to this effect, the agency said the applicable laws are the NIMASA Act 2007, Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, and the cabotage regulations and implementing guidelines.
Consequently, only vessels that meet applicable Nigerian ownership, registration, manning and construction requirements, and are duly registered in the special register for vessels and ship-owning companies engaged in cabotage would be allowed for cabotage operations, NIMASA said.
In the same vein, all vessels, owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders engaged in cabotage activities are required to maintain valid statutory certificates, licenses, registrations and other required documentation.
Also, as applicable, cabotage vessels must be wholly owned by Nigerian citizens, duly registered in the relevant special register, manned by Nigerian citizens and built in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, vessels that do not meet these requirements may be considered where the requisite Nigerian capacity is unavailable and the statutory conditions have been established and verified by NIMASA.
These moves, according to the agency, are aimed at entrenching maritime governance and ensuring that jobs meant for Nigerians are not outsourced, and for cabotage operations to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s maritime and economic development.
