How Nigeria Loses $1.9bn Annually To Foreign Ship Owners- Fleet Committee

The Nigerian Fleet Implementation Committee has announced that Nigeria loses $1.9bn to foreign ship owners as indigenous shippers are rarely engaged by local businesses.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hassan Bello, in a Statement signed by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Kennie Obateru, NNPC, urged the Corporation to grant local shipping companies the right of first refusal in crude oil lifting contract.

He said this would help grow the economy and sustain their businesses.

Bello appealed to NNPC subsidiaries to always engage indigenous shipping companies in their businesses.

The Chairman noted that the Committee was set up three years ago by the Federal Ministry of Transportation with a mandate to promote Nigerian ownership of ships and vessels.

This is intended to make local companies take control of the shipping business which is in line with the economic diversification policy of the Federal Government.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, said that the Corporation is ready to support indigenous fleet owners to enjoy greater patronage and participation in the oil and gas maritime business in Nigeria.

Kyari said with the scale of the Corporation’s activities in the maritime sector, NNPC would get more active in the affairs of the Fleet Management Committee with a view to strengthening the synergy between the Corporation and the private sector.

“We believe in this process, we will ensure that Nigerian ships enjoy a greater patronage in the business henceforth,” Kyari assured.