Magbojuri chides Peterside’s NIMASA over lip-service drive on Cabotage regime
Managing Director of Oceangate Engineering and Geophysics Limited, Taiwo Magbojuri has disclosed that the nation’s participation in cabotage regime regarding vessels, cargo, ship liners has continued to be abysmal irrespective of the reform claims of Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration (NIMASA) in recent times.
In an interview, he indicted the leadership of the federal agency, saying Nigerian youths could not be looking for jobs when opportunities abound in the maritime industry; which was mopped up by foreign professionals at the detriment of the country’s teeming youths.
He said that Nigerian youths could not be looking for jobs when opportunities abound in the maritime industry; which was mopped up by foreign professionals at the detriment of the country’s teeming youths.
His submission is stemmed from the fact that Nigeria’s compliance with the Cabotage law which stipulates certain percentage of indigenous involvement in the control of waterways and vessel as a means of job opportunities for youths has been abysmal.
Cabotage law seeks to protect merchant ships in most countries that have a coastline to protect the domestic shipping industry from foreign competition, preserve indigenous-owned ships and infrastructure for national security.
The Nigerian Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act No 5 of 2003 Section IV Sub-section I article a-e states that;
“The vessel is wholly and beneficially owned by Nigerian citizens or by a company wholly and beneficially owned by Nigerian citizens and a vessel or company is wholly and beneficially owned by a Nigerian.
“Where all the shares in the vessels and the company are held by Nigerians free from any trust or obligation in favour of any person not a citizen of Nigeria.
“The vessel is on bareboat charter to Nigerian citizens and is under the full control and management of Nigerian citizens or a company wholly and beneficially owned by Nigerians in terms of subsection (1) (a).
“The vessel is owned by a company registered in Nigeria and the percentage of shares in the company owned by Nigerian citizens is not less than 60 per cent;
“The vessel is exclusively manned by officers and crew of Nigerian citizenship except where Section 10 applies; and role of the body – Association of Marine Engineers and Surveyors (AMES) to the sector as indispensible.
“It should call on professionals to bring to the fore their expertise in helping the agency actualise its core mandate of regulating the industry.
Magbojuri said “Many international ships coming to Nigeria does not have Nigerian personnel on board as they prefer using their nationals which is against the Cabotage law,’’, arguing that “There must be a concerted effort to bridge this gap in the maritime sector as this can really drive the economy and provide employment to our youths,”.
“There are many areas in which the youth can work in the ships which should not be attributed to the foreigners at all. It is time to stand up for what is ours.
Making a direct reference to NIMASA, the maritime expert said “The laws are there but we need to fulfil what the law says, most especially the cabotage law in order to reduce unemployment in Nigeria”.
