13 July 2014, Lagos – Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, says it will amend the guideline of the Coastal and Shipping Act otherwise known as the Cabotage law with a view to getting Nigerians involved in the nation’s coastal trade.
Barrister Calistus Nwabueze Obi, NIMASA’s executive Director in charge of shipping development and Cabotage disclosed this in Lagos weekend. He said that the reason why the law has not met its objectives, could be as a result of the guidelines.
Obi who represented the Director General, Mr. Patrick Akpobolokemi, at a shareholders’ interactive workshop on Cabotage in Nigeria called on industry players to look at the guideline as they currently and recommended changes that will enhance the implementation of the law.
He said that there are areas where the agency must have to thinker within the Act
The Executive Director explained that the agency will; address inefficiency of the Cabotage Act while still carrying out its enforcement.
When the issue of waivers was raised, a lot of stakeholders expressed angst and disappointment at the way and manner waivers were being granted to foreign seafarers without recourse to their Nigerian counterpart.
While some stakeholders called for a total removal of the waiver clause, others were of the opinion that NIMASA should be more stringent with granting of waivers.
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nimasa-re-jig-cabotage-guidelines-increased-indigenous-participation/#sthash.NqX79CS9.dpuf
– This Day
