Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) and the transport ministry has been accused of flouting provisions of Cabotage Act in the issuance of cabotage waivers.
Speaking over the weekend at a maritime workshop organized by NIMASA, in Warri Delta state, the Chairman House Committee on Marine Education and Administration, Mr. Mohammed Bago said that the process of granting waivers under Cabotage has been shrouded in secrecy.
Challenging NIMASA and the transport ministry to make available the number of waivers so far approved.
Bago said the law establishing the Cabotage provides that waivers should be granted through a process, adding that that process must be adhered to.
According to him “NIMASA and the Ministry of Transportation said they have not granted waivers to foreign operators in the last six years or more. If they haven’t, how are these foreign operators operating in Nigeria, to the detriment of our indigenous operators?
“My message therefore, is that if NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transportation in treating application for waivers under Cabotage as provided for in section 9 to 14 of the Cabotage law, should follow the requirement of articles 3-8 of the Executive Order, then the indigenous operators will be better for it.
“There will no more be foreign ships scattered on our waterways operating without waivers”, He said
