Vincent Toritseju
08 September 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos — A group, the National Council of Managing Director of Licensed Customs, NCMDLCA, has petitioned the Presidency over the non-implementation of three maritime legislative instruments that have over the years stunted the growth of the nation’s maritime industry.
In the petition signed by the group’s president, Mr. Lucky Amiwero said that Coastal and inland shipping (Cabotage) Act 5 of 2003, the Nigeria Maritime Administrative and Safety Agency Act No. 17 of 2007, and Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act No. 2 of 2010 if well coordinated will create both wealth and generation employment for Nigerians.
He said “Since the enactment of the three legislative instruments meant for the development of indigenous capacity in the Maritime sector, there are no visible implementable activity in line with the provisions of the acts.
“Nigeria is yet to find its feet due to the complete absence of developmental strategy as contained in various Acts, which is to trigger the activities of indigenous operators and generate employment.
“Nigeria as a Maritime Nation needs to speedily develop, organizational architecture and responsibility to ensure the continued growth of the Nigeria Economy in an increasingly dangerous and competitive environment, which resulted in the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents (NCMDLCA) to press for proper implementation.”
“The provision of section 105 of the Nigerian oil and gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 empowers (NIMASA) to enforce the compliance of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act of 2003 and matters pertaining to Nigeria Content development act of 2010
“The creation of capacity on the indigenous operation and employment in the Maritime industry is the responsibility of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as contained in the three (3) instruments.
Virtually, all Maritime Nations provides direct or indirect aid to their Merchant fleet and Maritime Operation some of which include Operation Subsidies, Construction Subsidies, Trade in Allowance, Official-Law Interest Loans, Official Loans Guarantees, Accelerated Depreciation, Tax- Free Reserve Fund, Duty-Free Import or required Materials, Cargo Reserve Policy and (Cabotage) Regime.
‘Nigeria should not be an exception in the pursuit of the growth of its maritime sector”
He was of the opinion that implementing the policies and programs will facilitate the growth of the local capacity in ownership, manning and construction of ship and other maritime infrastructure as contained in section
