28 July 2016, Lagos – The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has expressed concerns about the flagrant disregard for the cabotage and environmental laws by some International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in in the country.
The Director General, NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who stated this during an engagement with the IOCs in Lagos, said the agency would no longer tolerate the disregard for Nigerian extant laws.
He therefore enjoined the IOCs to be mindful of all existing laws and regulations in the discharge of their duties as applicable sanctions will be meted out to erring companies.
Peterside highlighted areas of interest to include the flouting of cabotage law, negative impact to the environment from oil exploration activities, none payment of statutory levies due to the government and inadequate information sharing.
The DG noted that the era of some of the IOCs carrying out their businesses in violation of Nigeria’s laws especially as regards cabotage and the environment is over, stressing that “we will not fold our arms and watch while you do damage to our environment because environmental pollution is life threatening”.
Besides, he noted that a situation where the IOCs engage foreign vessels to do jobs that Nigerian operators have adequate capacity and equipment will no longer be tolerated as this has been a major bane in the development of Nigeria’s shipping industry.
A statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communications, NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, quoted Peterside as saying: “The spirit of the Cabotage Act is not to generate revenue in terms of waivers but to build the requisite capacity for indigenous players which will in the long run generate wealth and create employment for Nigeria’s teeming population”.
- The Guardian
