Months after denials and dilly-dallying, the minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman has confirmed that government has finally granted the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) approval to establish a national carrier.
Months after denials and dilly-dallying, the minister of transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman has confirmed that government has finally granted the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) approval to establish a national carrier.
The confirmation comes about 16 years after the liquidation of the nation’s national carrier; the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) and about 10 years after the formation of a successor company from the defunct national carrier which it christened the Nigeria Unity Line. The company has also died, following the backing out of multi-billionaire, Aliko Dangote from the acquisition.
Justifying the decision, the minister said that the national carrier would redress the problem of low indigenous participation in international shipping business.
He also confirmed that NIMASA has so far garnered about N13 billion (or about US$106.5 million) into the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) and that modalities for the disbursement of the fund were being worked out.
Although, Suleiman was quiet on whether proceeds from the CVFF would be expended on the new national carrier, he, never-the-less hinted at government’s determination to use the CVFF and Cabotage to facilitate more indigenous participation in shipping, even a she however confirmed that the funds disbursement process would be under a public-private sector partnership.
“The modalities for the successful take-off of this scheme are being finalised with the constitution of an inter-agency committee,” he stressed.
Four banks have so far been shortlisted for the administration of the fund. They are: Fidelity Bank plc, Diamond Bank plc, Equatorial Trust Bank plc and Skye Bank plc.
Mr Suleiman said that intervention projects like Maritime Policy Advisory Group and the Nigerian Maritime Data Bank were being implemented. He said the maritime data bank would serve the data needs of the maritime industry in West and Central Africa.
The ministry had directed that more maritime academies be established under public-private sector partnership, he added.
The minister expressed optimism that the seafarers training program of NIMASA would produce robust pool of Nigerian seafarers to serve domestic and international shipping services.
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