NIMASA has Left Nigerian Shipping Worse than it Met it- Jolapamo

Joyce Mmereole Okoli

The Chairman, Board of Trustees, Nigerian Shipowners Association of Nigeria (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, has expressed displeasure over what he described as the worsening state of shipping development in Nigeria under the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Making his submission at a Breakfast Meeting hosted by maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) themed; "Rehabilitation of Tin Can Island Port: Proffering Workable Solutions", which held in Apapa, Lagos,

He noted that as a maritime nation, the maritime administration have not paid due attention to the three cardinal areas of the maritime industry which are, port development, seafarers training and vessel ownership.

Jolapamo who stated that at the core of the tripod is the need to broaden indigenous owned vessels so as to allow indigenous investors have a foothold in the industry, the very few number of local ship owners are depleting by the day.

"Maritime development has three areas. The first is port development. We have ports but because we are not running it seriously, that is why this meeting is called by MARAN which is why we are here today. We also need to train seafarers. We are doing it but we are not doing it the best way that other people do so we are not getting results.

His words: "The third us to own vessels. Ships that will carry cargo. Unfortunately, instead of us going forward, we are going backwards.

"Today, the creation of NIMASA has left shipping development in Nigeria worse than it used to be. Most ship owners of before don't have anything to show.

"Today, what NIMASA has been doing, shipping development should be at the top but it is at number six. A ship is the center if you are going to develop maritime because you have to perfect the center before any other area can come in."

On his part, the president of MARAN, Mr Godfrey Bivbere, noted that the challenge is not perculiar to Nigeria as in most of the countries in the subregion, shipping operations have been taken over by foreigners.

He assured stakeholders present that the Association would work with relevant agencies to ensure that Government does the right thing.