The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers’ Council, Capt. Adamu Biu, has called for effective financing of the maritime sub-sector through adequate budgetary allocation and internal resources.

Biu made the call at the fifth Nigeria International Maritime Ports and Terminals Conference and Expo in Abuja.

He said that effective budgetary allocation would help the country to fully realise its potential in shipping, adding that indigenous shipping companies should also be encouraged to acquire modern vessels to enable them participate effectively in the new world maritime order under a free and liberal market.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced plans to bill all ocean-going vessels doing business in Nigerian waters.

Biu said that effort should be made to encourage gradual and cautious indigenous participation in the lifting of crude oil and petroleum products.

He recalled that since 2006, the cargo throughout the country had grown significantly as a result of the port reform programme and high demand for port services engendered by strong global and national growth.

Biu said that available statistics showed that the number of vessels that called at the ports rose from 3,689 vessels in 2006 to 122,831,704 tonnes in 2011.

“Similarly, the cargo throughput increased from 46,150,518 tonnes in 2006 to 82,763,384 tonnes in 2011.

“This performance is a direct result from the Federal Government’s reform policy which has reduced the diversion of cargo to neighbouring ports.”

Biu expressed regrets that in spite of the proven potentials of shipping to catalyse the economic development of any nation, Nigeria had not leveraged on her maritime endowments to make shipping a driver of her economy.

“Bearing in mind that Nigeria generates more than 60 per cent of the cargo throughout West and Central Africa vis-à-vis her large population and extensive coastal line, it is imperative that shipping should contribute reasonably to the growth of the national economy.”

He, however, said that for the shipping sector to play its role in the economy, these anomalies needed to be urgently addressed for the country to attain vision 20:20-20.

NIMASA Director-General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi said that the fees would be for the cleaning of the Nigerian waters.

Akpobolokemi made the announcement at a one-day capacity building workshop, organised by the Maritime Reporters’ Association of Nigeria (MARAN) held in Lagos.

Akpobolokemi, represented by NIMASA’s legal adviser, Mr. Matthew Egbadon, said that the proposed fee was part of the measures for the management of polluted Nigerian waters.

“The new rule will be known as the sea protection levy regulation, wherein regardless of who pollutes the water.

“Every vessel that has business to do in our ports will be liable to pay a fee for cleaning of the water.”

He said that the agency had come up with 12 regulations as part of measures toward the control and management of pollution.

“Hitherto, we have not had regulations for punitive measures for those who pollute our waters but recently we have made 12 regulations which have been assented to by the Minister of Transport and gazetted,” Akpobolokemi said.

He said that the regulations deal with specific areas such as prevention of seaweeds and garbage dumping in our waters.

The other areas are oil pollution and ships generated waste.

 

 

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com