Buhari: Ports Reform Cannot Be Complete Without Economic Regulator

Published

8 years ago

June 1, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday stressed the importance of having the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, NSC, as the nation’s ports economic regulator, saying the council was appointed to enhance the efficiency, competitiveness and economic viability of the maritime sector.

Buhari also called on all agencies and stakeholders to do away with all forms of corrupt practices in the sector.
The President told stakeholders made up of judges from the Supreme Court, Federal High Courts, Appeal courts, states and those from neighbouring countries who attended the maritime seminar for judges held at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, that the reform in the nation’s ports cannot be complete without having an economic regulator.
According to him, the need for a regulator at this critical time of economic downturn has become imperative to encourage transparency in economic activities.

Buhari who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Justice Taiwo Abiboki, also said that the economic regulator was needed to enhance revenue generation and boost patronage of the seaports for import and export trade.

Calling on both judiciary and the legislature to lend their support to the reform measures for the sake of the national economy, Buhari also called on the Council as the economic regulator to come up with viable blueprints for achieving maximum exploitation of the economic potentials of the maritime industry.

Buhari also said that for the nation to achieve maximum productivity and efficiency in the maritime industry, there must be concerted efforts to get rid of fraudulent and corrupt practices in the sector.
“Corruption as we all know is one of the enemies of economic development. Corruption increases cost of doing business, destroys ease of doing business, distorts processes and procedures, robs government of legitimate revenue and also gives the country a bad image.

“One way of removing corruption from our economy is to have lucid, clear, simple and predicative rules governing our economic activities. Another sure way of reducing corruption is by embracing automation.

“We cannot afford to perpetuate the cases of mismanagement and squander of national resources which we have witnessed in some of our institutions in the sector. The time for a paradigm shift is now, and in line with our agenda for a corruption-free society, let me assure you that my administration will encourage and enforce discipline and sanity in the sector”.

The President called on the judiciary to adjudicate disputes arising from the activities of domestic and international stakeholders in the sector in a fair and equitable manner as well as in prosecuting cases arising from malfeasances in the sector.

During the event, the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, also said that the maritime seminar for judges will now be held every year.

Amaechi made the promise as a follow-up to the request by the former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan who said that the seminar for judges should be a yearly event because of its importance for the industry and the judiciary.

He said that the main objective of having maritime seminar for judges was to equip the judges and justices of Superior Courts of record as well as relevant stakeholders in the maritime industry with the basic contemporary knowledge of the complex and dynamic subject of Admiralty Law and Practice as it affects the administration of Justice in the country.
He said that the importance of quick and efficient handling of maritime matters by the nation’s courts cannot be overemphasized since in maritime commerce, time is money.

He added that the strategic partnership between the NSC and the National Judicial Institute stemmed from the recognition of the need to specially equip the judicial officers with the requisite knowledge to help facilitate expeditious dispensation of justice in maritime causes in the courts.

Shonekan who was the Chairman of the Occasion commended the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and the National Judicial Institute for the collaboration to organize the seminar, describing the effort as invaluable capacity building programme for those in legal profession, particularly those in the bench and the bar who by the demand of their profession must continue to update themselves on many areas of human endeavour.

He called on the two agencies to redouble their efforts to ensure the continuity of the seminar, adding that the problem has been how to sustain good ideas.
“By organizing the series of capacity building seminars, the judges, stakeholders and the economy have benefitted from it”, he said.

In his vote of thanks at the end of the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary, Mr Hassan Bello, said the reform and revitalization of the transport sector must be supported by sound, modern, lucid and dynamic legal system, commending the Transport Minister for all the support, particularly for the many intellectual endeavours.

Bello said his Council will carry out the directive of having a yearly maritime seminar for judges.

Shipping Day

Related Topics:Nigerian Shippers Council President Muhammadu Buhari

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WAIVER CESSATION: Igbokwe urges NIMASA to evolve stronger collaboration with Ships owners

Published

5 years ago

April 13, 2019

Maritime First

…Stresses the need for timely disbursement of N44.6billion CVFF***

Highly revered Nigerian Maritime Lawyer, and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Igbokwe has urged the Nigeria Maritime Administration and safety Agency (NIMASA) to partner with ship owners and relevant association in the industry to evolving a more vibrant merchant shipping and cabotage trade regime.

Igbokwe gave the counsel during his paper presentation at the just concluded two-day stakeholders’ meeting on Cabotage waiver restrictions, organized by NIMASA.

“NIMASA and shipowners should develop merchant shipping including cabotage trade. A good start is to partner with the relevant associations in this field, such as the Nigeria Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA), Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Oil Trade Group & Maritime Trade Group of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).

“A cursory look at their vision, mission and objectives, show that they are willing to improve the maritime sector, not just for their members but for stakeholders in the maritime economy and the country”.

Adding that it is of utmost importance for NIMASA to have a through briefing and regular consultation with ships owners, in other to have insight on the challenges facing the ship owners.

“It is of utmost importance for NIMASA to have a thorough briefing and regular consultations with shipowners, to receive insight on the challenges they face, and how the Agency can assist in solving them and encouraging them to invest and participate in the maritime sector, for its development.

“NIMASA should see them as partners in progress because, if they do not invest in buying ships and registering them in Nigeria, there would be no Nigerian-owned ships in its Register and NIMASA would be unable to discharge its main objective.

The Maritime lawyer also urged NIMASA to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF)that currently stands at about N44.6 billion.

“Lest it be forgotten, what is on the lips of almost every shipowner, is the need to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (the CVFF’), which was established by the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act, 2003. It was established to promote the development of indigenous ship acquisition capacity, by providing financial assistance to Nigerian citizens and shipping companies wholly owned by Nigerian operating in the domestic coastal shipping, to purchase and maintain vessels and build shipping capacity.

“Research shows that this fund has grown to about N44.6billion; and that due to its non-disbursement, financial institutions have repossessed some vessels, resulting in a 43% reduction of the number of operational indigenous shipping companies in Nigeria, in the past few years.

“Without beating around the bush, to promote indigenous maritime development, prompt action must be taken by NIMASA to commence the disbursement of this Fund to qualified shipowners pursuant to the extant Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (“CVFF”) Regulations.

“Indeed, as part of its statutory functions, NIMASA is to enforce and administer the provisions of the Cabotage Act 2003 and develop and implement policies and programmes which will facilitate the growth of local capacity in ownership, manning and construction of ships and other maritime infrastructure. Disbursing the CVFF is one of the ways NIMASA can fulfill this mandate.

“To assist in this task, there must be collaboration between NIMASA, financial institutions, the Minister of Transportation, as contained in the CVFF Regulations that are yet to be implemented”, the legal guru highlighted further.

He urged the agency to create the right environment for its stakeholders to build on and engender the needed capacities to fill the gaps; and ensure that steps are being taken to solve the challenges being faced by stakeholders.

“Lastly, which is the main reason why we are all here, cessation of ministerial waivers on some cabotage requirements, which I believe is worth applause in favour of NIMASA.

“This is because it appears that the readiness to obtain/grant waivers had made some of the vessels and their owners engaged in cabotage trade, to become complacent and indifferent in quickly ensuring that they updated their capacities, so as not to require the waivers.

“The cessation of waivers is a way of forcing the relevant stakeholders of the maritime sector, to find workable solutions within, for maritime development and fill the gaps in the local capacities in 100% Nigerian crewing, ship ownership, and ship building, that had necessitated the existence of the waivers since about 15 years ago, when the Cabotage Act came into being.

“However, NIMASA must ensure that the right environment is provided for its stakeholders to build and possess the needed capacities to fill the gaps; and ensure that steps are being taken to solve the challenges being faced by stakeholders. Or better still, that they are solved within the next 5 years of its intention to stop granting waivers”, he further explained.

Breaking News: The Funeral Rites of Matriarch C. Ogbeifun is Live

Published

5 years ago

March 7, 2019

Maritime First

The Burial Ceremony of Engr. Greg Ogbeifun’s mother is live. Watch on the website: www.maritimefirstnewspaper.com and on Youtube: Maritimefirst Newspaper.

Wind Farm Vessel Collision Leaves 15 Injured

Published

5 years ago

February 20, 2019

Maritime First

…As Valles Steamship Orders 112,000 dwt Tanker from South Korea***

A wind farm supply vessel and a cargo ship collided in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday leaving 15 injured.

The Cyprus-flagged 80-meter general cargo ship Raba collided with Denmark-flagged 31-meter wind farm supply vessel World Bora near Rügen Island, about three nautical miles off the coast of Hamburg.

Many of those injured were service engineers on the wind farm vessel, and 10 were seriously hurt.

They were headed to Iberdrola’s 350MW Wikinger wind farm. Nine of the people on board the World Bora were employees of Siemens Gamesa, two were employees of Iberdrola and four were crew.

The cause of the incident is not yet known, and no pollution has been reported.

After the collision, the two ships were able to proceed to Rügen under their own power, and the injured were then taken to hospital.

Lifeboat crews from the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service tended to them prior to their transport to hospital via ambulance and helicopter.

“Iberdrola wishes to thank the rescue services for their diligence and professionalism,” the company said in a statement.

In the meantime, the Hong Kong-based shipowner Valles Steamship has ordered a new 112,000 dwt crude oil tanker from South Korea’s Sumitomo Heavy Industries Marine & Engineering.

Sumitomo is to deliver the Aframax to Valles Steamship by the end of 2020, according to data provided by Asiasis.

The newbuild Aframax will join seven other Aframaxes in Valles Steamship’s fleet. Other ships operated by the company include Panamax bulkers and medium and long range product tankers.

The company’s most-recently delivered unit is the 114,426 dwt Aframax tanker Seagalaxy. The naming and delivery of the tanker took place in February 2019, at Namura Shipbuilding’s yard in Japan.

Maritime Executive with additional report from World Maritime News