BY UDEME CLEMENT
The Chairman, Indigenous Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Chief Isaac Jolapamo, has declared  that Nigeria is yet to be  recognised as a maritime nation in the world shipping circle.The country he says will only be recognised when it commences real maritime business in areas that are currently dominated by foreigners.

He told Sunday Vanguard, that Nigeria though a coastal state, with coastline region of over 900 nautical miles and economic zone of 200 nautical miles, is yet to fully harness its maritime resources even when the terrain presents an opportunity to develop harbours and ports.

“A credible shipping company in Nigeria could move out of the country to raise money that would be sufficient to acquire a vessel if such company has contracts. $30million is not sufficient for the shipping sector. If for instance, you give $30million to individual operator it means you have only assisted him to acquire a ship, meaning that such amount is not enough to provide needed investments in the sector”, he said.

On how the Coastal and Inland Shipping  (Cabotage) financing fund should be utilised to turn the shipping sector around for greater productivity, he said, “the fund is expected to be used for developing and acquiring vessels, but the reality is that maritime business would not be fully developed on a political platform, the reason being that, political consideration may not allow for effective take off and adequate execution of shipping projects in the industry. For instance, a shipping company would not just purchase one ship because there is money to do so, there should be consideration for other important issues in the industry.”

And on how the Cabotage Acts 2003 could be implemented to fast track industrial development, he said, the issue must not be left to NIMASA alone. The agency is doing its best at the moment. What is required is the cooperation of all stakeholders, who should come together to ensure proper implementation of the Acts. For example, what control does NIMASA has over Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the multinationals operating in the sector. Unless, there is a concerted effort, the implementation may not be effective.

The local content initiative has helped, but the enforcement in shipping is not effective”, he said  “beyond the cooperation of all stakeholders, the operation of the Cabotage regime also depends on ports infrastructures, availability of national flag carrying vessels, competence seafarers and others.

We also need a deliberate policy of government to facilitate sub-regional trade as an instrument of economic, social and political development and integration. We should also realise that port industries and shipping provide the prime vehicle that propels the accomplishment of the maritime sector development”.