MAXIMISING NIGERIA’S SHIPPING POTENTIAL

John Odafe writes that even with its shortcoming, NIMASA is gradually revitalising the maritime sector of the economy

When it was built, the builders boasted, it was the safest ship in the world. ‘Unsinkable’ ran the headlines of 1912. But in a haste to make New York on time and an over-reliance on nature’s friendliness, the Titanic, steaming at almost full speed, ran into an iceberg that put a pin to its claims as ‘unsinkable.’ The Titanic went down the ocean floor on its maiden voyage on April 14, 1912. And that singular incident perhaps, more than ever in the modern world, brought to bear the imperativeness of maritime safety.

The sinking got a global maritime attention. The U.S Navy started patrolling the North Atlantic to search and broadcast warnings on ice bergs. By 1913, the Revenue Cutter Service, which preceded the U.S Coast Guard, started monitoring icebergs and issuing out warnings from February to July annually. In the same year, the first Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention emerged to improved safety at sea. The Titanic’s sink quenched not only the lives of those that died but signalled a threat to the economy at that time.

While shipping had always been a source of curiosity, commerce and leisure, its relevance has continued to grow bigger in the modern world. And Nigeria, as Africa’s biggest economy and with about 850km of coastline and over 3, 000km of inland waterways, shipping has huge potential. While this is being tapped, the fact is that Nigerians are yet to maximise the potential.

Recently applauded for remitting N9.975bn and $46.025 million in 2016 as against N4.955bn remitted in 2015, to the federal purse, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is set to revitalise the maritime sector and eliminate substandard shipping across the country. The agency disclosed its seriousness to tackle non-compliance of maritime safety and security standards in the country at a recent harmonised NIMASA stakeholders’ interactive session held in Lagos. Part of the renewed strategies includes the automation of the processes of the Nigerian Ship Registration Office which would be accessed by ship owners and prospective owners on an online and real-time basis.

Also, given that the country’s marine environment is of concern to the agency, it has stated that it has put the necessary apparatus in place to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime space is kept clean in accordance with international conventions. And relating to its levies, NIMASA proclaimed its collection was being carried out in line of best practices and sequel to international conventions. The agency also said it will ensure all policy tests would be tested and re-tested to ensure conforming.

“There is an urgent need for NIMASA to engage relevant agencies with a view to initiating measures designed to develop passenger, containerised, wet and dry cargo transportation in Nigeria’s internal waterways,” NIMASA said in the communique it issued after the session. “The calculation of NIMASA’s three per cent levy on all wet cargoes shall be based on freight tonne, which is cubic measurement and in line with the provisions of the MARPOL Convention, all tankers operating in Nigerian waters are required to have in place adequate and sufficient insurance cover to minimise the risk of losses sequel to oil spills and tanker accidents.”

Already, it is an open secret that the country is just coming out of a global reputation of having internal insecurity including activities of sea pirates mitigated. But to NIMASA, trying to not only to rejuvenate the country’s maritime economy but also to spur it on further, is not a small feat. However, under the current leadership of Dr. Dakuku Peterside as Director General, the agency is making giant strides. At the third confer-

RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF MARITIME INDUSTRY TO THE ACTUALISATION OF THE COUNTRY’S GROWTH GOALS, THE NUMBER FOUR CITIZEN REITERATED ON THE HUGE RESPONSIBILITY PLACED ON NIMASA

ence of the Association of Africa Maritime Administrations (AAMA) which held in Abuja in April 2017, Dr Peterside was unanimously elected first President of AAMA. This elevation surely brings more responsibility on Nigeria to set a standard on the continent. And Peterside is ready for the show.

That NIMASA aims to redesign the maritime landscape of Nigeria is ambitious, given its apparent shortage of manpower. Currently, Nigeria needs 50, 000 seafarers in the maritime industry, disclosed the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, recently. But the nation only boasted of about 3, 000 seafarers as at 2009. He was quoting figures obtained from NIMASA.

The speaker was speaking at the public hearing of two bills concerning the maritime industry – ‘A Bill For An Act To Establish The Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko In Delta State And For Other Related Matters (HB. 1032)’ and ‘A Bill For An Act To Establish The Maritime University, Oron Akwa Ibom State And To Make Comprehensive Provisions For Its Management And Administration And Other Related Matters.’

Recognising the importance of maritime industry to the actualisation of the country’s growth goals, the number four citizen reiterated on the huge responsibility placed on NIMASA.

“Maritime Sector is key in achieving the federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan that was launched in March this year 2017,” Dogara said at the hearing. “Availability of requisite trained manpower in sufficient numbers is key to the growth and sustenance of Nigeria’s maritime sector.”

He also harped on the fact that despite the enactment of the Cabotage Act in 2003 to reserve crewing of nationals in domestic shipping, both Coastal and Inland. Dogara, however, lamented the dearth of manpower with the required skills and training and deplored the situation whereby Nigeria couldn’t train manpower in the maritime despite its place of pride in the global maritime space.

To ensure the maritime industry is effectively covered for safety, trained manpower is a sine qua non. But with this deficit, NIMASA is in a bind.

However, the agency, working with vision, initiated the Nigeria Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP). And Nigerians enlisted in this programme were sent to study maritime-related courses such as Nautical Science, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in foreign universities. The dividends are being tapped but it is still not enough. Many of these trainings should and can be domesticated. And this is the crux of these two bills at the National Assembly.

The Nigeria Maritime University which is to be located in Okerenkoko Warri, Delta State, will have facilities to provide structured training as provided by the International Maritime Organisation (IMOs) under STCW Conventions. Then, there is the bill that seeks to upgrade the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, to a degree-awarding institution. Aside just awarding degrees, the bill will seek to upgrade facilities and teaching aids in line with IMOs STCW Convention (The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) 1978.

This agreement which was amended in 1995 and 2010 sets qualification standards for Masters, Officers and Watch Personnel on seagoing merchant ships. Speaking at the public hearing, Dogara said that global maritime economy has become more knowledge driven. And Nigerians should produce local high level manpower to fill the gap.