NIMASA Denies Giving Preferential Treatment To Foreign Shipping Firms

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has refuted allegations of giving preferential treatment to foreign shipping firms.

The Director-General, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh, said this on Wednesday while making clarification on the allegations by the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria.

The association had petitioned the Senate over NIMASA’s “unfavourable treatment and injustice”  on indigenous shipping companies.

Jamoh while speaking during the investigation by the Senate Committee denied the allegation, saying it has no backing of the law to grant waiver.

The DG said, “The operation of the Cabotage Act provides that NIMASA has the responsibility under Section 5 (2) to 5 (4) to process waiver and not to grant waiver. NIMASA never grants waiver but only processes waiver.

“As the Minister mentioned, if we process it, we send it to the Ministry of Transportation for the Minister’s consideration and approval; and to the best of my knowledge, for over 15 years, no Minister granted waiver.

“So if the shipping companies or ship owners take processing fee payment as waiver, we shouldn’t call it waiver. NIMASA doesn’t give waiver and I want anybody to come and present waiver given by NIMASA or Ministry of Transportation.

 
“In fact, even though the Act under section 9 (12) gives the Minister of Transportation powers to approve waivers, they don’t do so because they don’t want to encourage foreign vessels participation over local vessels.”

The NIMASA Boss, however, assured players in the sector that the agency was  working to expand local capacities.

He pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari, was aware of the development prior to his appointment as the DG.