Harboursandport.com: Lagos -- The
Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside has disclosed that the Agency is engaging the
Central Bank of Nigeria to create a special interest rate for maritime assets
acquisition in Nigeria stating that NIMASA is committed to opening new
frontiers for potential investors in the sector.
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| Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside |
Dr. Dakuku who made this known today during the
Maritime Stakeholders Interactive forum in Calabar, Cross Rivers State noted
that other industries such as the textile and manufacturing industry are
already enjoying same arrangement with the CBN and that it would be beneficial
for maritime to also enjoy same opportunity in order to grow Nigeria’s economy.
“We are committed to providing opportunities for
investors through public and private partnership. This applies especially to
investments in maritime infrastructure, shipping and ancillary services,
offshore services, ship building repairs as well as marine and bunkering
services. In this regard, we are engaging the Central Bank of Nigeria to create
a special interest rate for maritime infrastructure development and maritime
assets acquisition in Nigeria this is aside looking at the early disbursement
of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Funds”. He said.
Speaking further, the DG said there are enormous
potentials that remain untapped in the country’s maritime sector. He noted
that the Ports located in the Eastern flank of the Country
comprising of Calabar, Port-Harcourt and Onne holds a key to Nigeria’s economic
development and that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the Ports
function optimally.
“For us to harness our maritime potentials, the
ports in the Eastern flank must be fully utilized. The eastern zone is the most
critical because out of the 7 functional seaports in Nigeria 3 are domiciled in
the eastern zone and it also harbors over 70% of the 275 terminals that are in
the country but unfortunately in terms of cargo reception there is no
corresponding relationship between the facilities available and the reception
of cargoes because the eastern zone accounted for less than 20% of the vessels that
visited the Nigerian ports in 2016 and 2017”.
According to him, the available statistics shows
that there is need for serious collaboration with stakeholders in the sector to
ensure that the environment is made conducive enough for continuous growth that
is premised on sustainable development devoid of threats such as piracy and
other maritime crimes.
Earlier in his address the chairman of the
Governing Board of NIMASA, Maj. Gen Jonathan India Garba said that the eastern
zonal area has a lot to offer the Nigerian economy in terms of shipping. He
added that all Stakeholders should support the Agency as it strives to create
an enabling environment for maritime to thrive in Nigeria.
The Managing Director of Starz Marine Engineer
Greg Ogbeifun who also spoke at the event commended the Dr. Dakuku Peterside
led Management on the sensitization and awareness that the Agency is creating
to drive investors into the maritime sector. On his part, a former Executive
Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council Captain Adamu Biu said that the
Government is not totally responsible for the previous stagnation of the
maritime sector. He said that it is time for stakeholders to support NIMASA to
bring the much needed development to the Maritime sector.
The Secretary General of the Abuja MoU Barrister
Mfon Usoro who was the lead speaker delivered a paper titled “Harnessing
Maritime Potentials in an Untapped Environment: Opportunities, Threats and the
Role of Government”.
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