The Federal Government has indicated its intention to review the Nigerian Merchant Shipping Act otherwise called the Cabotage Law with a view to gradual implementation of the law.
The Minister of Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Amaechi who made this known at the ongoing African Maritime Conference in Lagos also requested at the instance of the pioneer Chairman of the Indigenous Ship owners of Nigeria (ISAN) now Nigerian Ship owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, a copy of the 2012 Presidential Retreat report.
The Minister disclosed that there was no such report as the Presidential Retreat on the Nigerian Maritime sector given to the Ministry suggesting that the report may have been submitted to the President whom he said implements decisions through the Ministries.
He added that if the report had passed through the Ministry, the Minister would have buy into the report and seek a presidential directive or support to present it to the cabinet for the reforms contained therein to be implemented.
“We will be glad to see that because I believe that the maritime industry is not even organized but when I say it is not organized, I mean that when you go to Dubai or Nigerians who had visited other seaports, do you feel proud in comparison with Nigerian ports?
The maritime sector when I say it is not organized should be in a position to run part of the economy that not only employ people but create wealth. Wealth creation is essential and it should devolve itself from the government.
“We will try to look at the cabotage law again. I have a lot of powers around it and see how we will begin the gradual implementation of the cabotage law. So, let me say to both AU (African Union) and our brothers and sisters who are involved in the shipping industry that we are ready to partner with you”, he stated.
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