Nigeria: Cabotage - NAMISA to Domicile Ship Repairs

Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Temisan Omatseye last weekend declared the determination of the agency to boost ship repairs activities in the country, saying that it is regrettable that though Nigeria dominates over 65 percent of shipping activities in the West African sub-region, the country can only boost of about four functional shiprepair yards.
According to him, zero percent of the vessels carrying Nigeria's over 2.5 million metric tones of daily crude oil production, and the Nigerian Liquefied natural gas; are repaired in the country
He said: "If you ask Chief Jolapoma and others who own ships, they are taking them to Ghana, Cameroon and Angola for repairs and it is costing over USD300,000 to dry dock a vessel, considering the fact that the International Maritime Organisation rules requires ship to go on mandatory dry-docking every three years, you could only imagine what that amount can do to the Nigerian economy if all the ships operating in the country are repaired here, in terms of job creation and conservation of scarce foreign exchange."
He disclosed that the agency is ready to support any good business plan from any company, local or international, we will support it.
Meanwhile, Mr. Omatseye has disclosed that foreign investors from three different countries of the world have indicated interest to build shiprepair yards in Nigeria, amongst them were; Korea, South Africa and United States of America.
Omatseye who said that the Nigerian maritime industry has performed below average 50 years after independence, assured that the agency would provide incentives for investors in the ship repair segment of shipping business in the country, he said however that most equipment needed in a shiprepair yard or shipbuilding yards come from abroad, saying that it is easy to get foreign funding for such things. "They are there waiting to support such things, all they need is your idea. So our businessmen have to get moving. We will give them all the support and the incentives they require to take over this business.
He assured foreign investors that the Cabotage Act does not necessarily excludethem from investing in the Nigerian coastal shipping business, saying that the ideal is to enhance indigenous participation and partnerships between Nigerians and foreigners who have advanced technology and knowhow in the shipping business. He said: "Cabotage did not restrict foreigners completely. All we are doing at NIMASA is encouraging both foreigners and Nigerian to invest because the opportunities is quiet vast and call for very huge investment over a long period of time. And we are pursuing our goals with vigour because we are aware that this sector have a lot to add to the nation's match to attending the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."
He hinted that he would soon commence rescuing the ships which were recently submerged by waves, saying that he could not have moved in at a faster pace because he needed to pass through the government bureaucratic processes before securing approval for the funds he need to carry outthe operation.