The President of Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA) Alhaji Aminu Umar has lamented that Nigeria’s poor economic policies has been responsible for colossal losses to the neighbouring ports in Cotonou and Lome.
Alhaji Umar urged the federal government to create supportive policies, the review of the Cabotage Act as well as Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) and other monetary policies that have put the nation at a disadvantage in the shipping business.
Alhaji Umar made this plea in while speaking with MMS Plus recently in an exclusive chat. He lamented that neighbouring ports in Cotonou and Lome were making money as a result of Nigeria’s unfavourable shipping and economic policies.
He complained that over 200 ships berth in Lome every month, carrying goods that are destined for Nigeria. According to him, if these vessels had come to Nigeria they would have paid 3% levy to NIMASA which will be about $30, 000 to $40,000 per vessel which is about $8,000,000 monthly.
“The ships that come into Lome are over 200 vessels in a month, if they had come to Nigeria they would have paid 3% levy to NIMASA which will be about $30, 000 to $40,000 per vessel. We have tried to meet the Central Bank to get them to change this policy. We are developing other countries at the detriment of Nigeria.” he said.
He maintained that the maritime sector should have provided massive employment directly or indirectly through patronage of Nigerian vessels and ports, therefore he urged the CBN to review its policies and revoke it in the interest of Nigerians.
“These are some of the things in our submission to the government through the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amechi. Now that we have a new Director General at NIMASA, we will also make a submission to him. These vessels should have berthed in Lagos and we should have been generating money in several ways from Chandlers, Tourisms, Hotels and Hospitality, etc.” Aminu stated.
