The country may have lost about 265 vessels to foreign ship registry, owing to the poor state of the Nigerian ship registry.
This is according to data presented by Dr. Emeka Akabogu; a maritime lawyer at a recent maritime stakeholders’ meeting with the Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Dr. Dayo Mobereola in Lagos last week.
Akabogu’s findings shed light on a significant disparity between the number of vessels owned by Nigerian interests and those registered under foreign flags.
According to his analysis, while Nigeria boasts the largest fleet in Africa with 291 vessels, a staggering 265 of these ships,with a combined deadweight tonnage of over 6.48 million of tonnes are registered abroad. He consequently raised alarm about the dire consequences of continued capital flight and loss of control over the nation’s critical maritime assets.
Akabogu further emphasized the need for decisive action to reverse this trend and safeguard Nigeria’s maritime sovereignty.
He called for robust policies to incentivize domestic ship registration and ownership, urging policymakers to prioritize measures that promote indigenous participation and curb capital flight.
The failure to address these issues, Akabogu warned, could jeopardize maritime industry’s growth prospects and undermine national security interests.
He explained that the discrepancy in ship registration highlights broader challenges facing Nigeria’s maritime industry, including policy ambiguity and regulatory inefficiencies.
Speaking also at the event, the President of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mr. Aminu Umar, lamented that the ship registration process in neighbouring countries like Togo and Ghana are more seamless than Nigeria.
Drawing a comparison, Umar disclosed that in 30 minutes, the entire process for ship registration could be concluded in other climes because the processes are fully digital, thus he encouraged NIMASA to do same.
He added that the commencement of refining at Dangote Refinery has opened new opportunities for ship owners to partake in the export of refined products as well as importation of crude from other nations, Umar stressed the need to address ship financing challenges for operators.
Speaking earlier, the Pioneer Chairman, Board of NIMASA, Dr. Tijjani Ramalan, suggested the establishment of a National Shipping Line/National Carrier for carriage of crude and refined products.
Ramalan also encouraged the new NIMASA leadership to prioritize inter-agency/ inter-ministerial collaboration for integration with the Marine and Blue Economy, as well as collaboration with Dangote Group as well as other local refinery owners and indigenous shipowners.
“I suggest exploring the possibility of bringing the critical Nigerian stakeholders in maritime, oil and gas and shipping onboard as strategic partners in the establishment of the national shipping fleet/national carrier. Their expertise and resources can significantly contribute to the success and viability of this initiative as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” Ramalan said.
Ramalan, who is also current Chairman, Board of Trustees for National Seafarers Welfare Board of Nigeria, subsequently presided over the launch of the Reviewed Minimum Standards for the Nigerian Seafarers (2023-2025) which also took place at the occasion.
