The Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) has maintained that the agreement it entered into with Greek shipowners on acquisition of 40 ships is still on course, saying that the Memorandum of Understanding reached is still intact.
A member of NISA; Otunba Sola Olatunji in a chat with Shipping Position Daily in Lagos reassured that the ships would be sent to the country when indigenous shipping activities get a boost.
He said the prolonged inability to lift cargoes by Nigerian ship owners is the main reason the ships have not been deployed to the country, pointing out that foreign dominance of shipping has made shipping business unattractive.
The NISA member stressed the need for government to encourage ship owners by ensuring that a conducive environment is created for maritime business to thrive.
He said the ships that are being expected and for which an MoU was signed between NISA and Greek ship owners are for real, because according to him, no money has been collected from anybody.
"It is very strange that the word scam echoed in the whole process of the Greek ship acquisition"
"If you talk about scam in this case, it involves monies being collected from one party or association but to the best of my knowledge, there is no money involved in the process of MoU with the Greek counterpart", he explained.
Olatunji said it was a business agenda between the leadership of NISA with their foreign counterparts, because it was purely a trade association.
He said the agenda of the ships acquisition with the Greek ship owners was strategic in line with the Cabotage Act, adding that the Greeks have the craft while Nigeria has the market.
Olatunji stated that the synergy between the association and the foreigners have gone a long way, for but lack for business and the unfriendly business environment caused a major setback, hence , the ships are yet to arrive the country.
"It’s unfortunately that the setback we are into today is as a result of government not encouraging our trade, but if tomorrow they decided to open the window of opportunity. I tell you the ships will be in the country soon"
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