… as stakeholders review national maritime transport policy
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has stated that a national policy on maritime and cooperation among stakeholders in the industry would lead to economic growth.
This was as stakeholders on the invitation of NIMASA gathered to review the Draft National Maritime Transport Policy (NMTP) to ensure it is elaborate to drive the growth of the maritime sector and as well stand the test of time.
At the session, Dakuku, who was represented by the agency’s Head, Planning Research and Data Management Services, Mrs. Ronke Thomas, said that it was in the usual way of the agency in engaging stakeholders especially as it concerns documents that would benefit the sector.
According to the DG, “In our usual way of ensuring that the sector is stakeholders driven, we feel this document would benefit all the players in the industry and that is why we have gathered you here to make input on this document so that we will be on the same page when it is time for the implementation of the content.”
Also at the event, Mike Igbokwe, SAN, said that there was the need to have a liberal protection of what he termed the Nigerian local shipping industry.
He said that documents such as the NMTP would ensure that the Nigerian local shipping industry was protected from being stifled by unfavourable competition from international shipping company.
In her view, the Secretary General of the Abuja MoU, Mrs Ufom Usoro noted that the document should be reviewed with particular focus on the National Transport Policy (NTP) which is at the final level of approval by the Federal Executive Council.
The former NIMASA DG pointed out that having been a member of the committee that drafted the NTP, that there was the need to make reference to the document while reviewing the NMTP.
She advised that the NMTP should focus more on objectives of the Maritime Sector and not the agencies that regulate the sector.
In the same vein Temisan Omatseye also a former DG of NIMASA said that the NTP was at an advanced stage, he disclosed that there was even a strategy already in place for the implementation of the document.
He advised that the NMTP should be embedded in the NTP which will make it more comprehensive and elaborate.
It should be noted that this is the latest in the collaborative efforts championed by NIMASA in the maritime industry.
The session had in attendance key stakeholders such Andrew Isichei and Mrs. Obiageli Obi of the Nigerian Chambers of Shipping.
Others are Chidi Ilogu, Ms. Funmi Folorunso, Otunba Kunle Folarin as well as representatives from the Maritime Workers Union, the Nigerian Merchant Navy among other attendees.