The lingering buck-passing which has characterised the quest for wet cargo carriage by indigenous ship owners once again came to the fore last week as stakeholders including the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) and the Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria (ISAN) were divided on key factors that are responsible for the continued dominance of the trade by multinationals.
At the one day seminar which was put together by MARAN, participants were sharply divided about the issue even as they agreed that time has come for a more nationalistic approach to the problem.
At the event which was attended by representatives of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Petroleum and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) as well as ISAN members, the president of MARAN, Mr Dele Aderibigbe urged ISAN members to pool resources together to acquire at least one crude oil tanker, even as he added that the local practitioners should wake up and show that they have the competence to offer a better alternative than what the foreigners are offering.
But apparently not in support of the assertion that indigenous operators are not doing enough, ISAN president, Chief Isaac Jolapamo told the gathering that his association has already incorporated a shipping company for the purpose of participating in lifting of crude oil and petroleum products.
He lamented that in spite of the bold move the federal government has refused to accord recognition to the shipping company and added that the inability of Nigerians to lift crude oil and products is rubbing off negatively on Nigerians.
The result of this, according to him is massive unemployment among Nigerian seafarers because they are half baked professionals who are not exposed to sufficient sea time.
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Chief Jolapamo berated government and NIMASA for the lapses in the implementation of Cabotage law saying that the law has led to disjointed growth in the maritime sector leading to master mariners and marine engineers abandoning sea faring for other things.
Also speaking on the same issue, the minister of state for water transportation, Prince Okechukwu Emeka disclosed that it was the quest to encourage indigenous participation in shipping activities that led to the enactment of the Cabotage law in 2003.
“To realise this noble objectives, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is discussing with Nigerian banks to assist indigenous ship owners in getting loans to purchase vessels required for coastal trade through the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund”.
According to the minister who was represented by the executive secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council, Capt Adamu Biu, with the disbursement of the fund, Nigeria is moving closer to taking control off its coastal tanker business.
He however admitted that the issue of carriage of crude remains contentious and that he was convince that indigenous ship owners can effectively participate in the lucrative business if they are given the chance.
The minister consequently charged the Nigerian companies to strive to meet guidelines that are set up by the NNPC.
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