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By Moses Ebosele –
The Nigerian Maritime Adminstration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will no longer tolerate disregard for Cabotage and environmental laws by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria, Director General, Dr Dakuku Peterside has said.
Peterside who stated this when he held an engagement with representatives of the IOCs in Lagos on ways of fostering a closer synergy towards Nigeria’s economic development also charged the IOCs to be mindful of all existing laws and regulations in the discharge of their duties as applicable sanctions will be meted out to erring companies.
According to a statement issued by NIMASA’s head, Corporate Communications,
Hajia Lami Tumaka, the DG highlighted areas of interest to NIMASA to include the flouting of Cabotage law, negative impact to the environment from oil exploration activities, none payment of statutory levies due to the government and inadequate information sharing.
He explained that a situation where the IOCs engage foreign vessels to do jobs that Nigerian operators have adequate capacity and equipment will no longer be tolerated as “this has been a major bane in the development of Nigeria’s shipping industry”.
The DG said: “you must give us ample notice of vessel requirements so that we can engage indigenous operators who have the capacity to do the job instead of giving it to foreign operators”.
The DG added:“The spirit of the Cabotage Act is not to generate revenue in terms of waivers but to build the requisite capacity for indigenous players which will in the long run generate wealth and create employment for Nigeria’s teeming population”.
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