A maritime lawyer, Emeka Akabogu, has said that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has not made enough effort in encouraging shipping development in the country.
He said thatt the present management of the agency under the leadership of Dakuku Peterside had made minimal effort within two years on board in some ways in repositing the industry.
He said this at the sideline of an event in Lagos, recently.
Akabogu said that it was necessary to analysis the industry based on the practical indices on ground and not on grandiose statement.
The Senior Partner, Akabogu and Associates said, “NIMASA in the last two years has been making efforts to reposition, it has done well in some ways but it still has a long way to go.
“I think it is more important to focus on the indices that develop the port and we have not seen enough effort in the true indices of industry development one of which is tonnage development
“So, I want to see and judge based on practical indices which are on ground and not on broad grandiose statement.
“What is the volume and of tonnage which existed in 2016 compared to today, am talking of Nigerian tonnage, to what extent have Nigerian shipowners become more active in cabotage trade, to what extent can it be said that seafarers who are currently onboard Nigerian vessels and support vessels are being treated in line with the provisions of the MLC 2006, have we increased capacity in ship building, do we have more ship yards or the existing ship yards are being operated better today than they were in the past,” he queried.
