The Nigerian Shippers’ Council is mulling the establishment of a Shipping Sector support Fund as well export tariffs waiver for Nigerian vessels.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shipper’s Council, Mr Emmanuel Jime
made this known when the executive members of Ships owners Association of Nigeria, SOAN, paid him a courtesy visit in Lagos.
Mr Jime who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Fleet Implementation Committee noted that it was crucial that incentives, including zero import duty on vessels, be given to Indigenous Shipowners to assume their rightful place as a maritime hub.
He listed other incentives the shipping community should be given to include the right of first refusal for the national carrier procurement and processing of all cargoes without any exception
“We are also advocating a permit to be issued only upon verification of unavailability of Ratings and Officers, if the Ratings are not given the required protection and cover which they need, they would be unable to face competitions from foreign shipping Companies” he said.
Mr Jime also called for a change in the country’s crude oil trade policy, noting that at the moment, there was no sufficient participation of Nigerian Ship Owners in that area of the economy.
He further explained that Council’s advocacy was for the existing policy which denied Nigerian Shipping community participation in oil and gas business, to be changed.
The Fleet Implementation Committee Chairman however urged the Corporate Affairs Commission to adopt a zero duty for ship finance registration, stressing that the Fleet Implementation Committee under his Chairmanship would pursue most incentives for the Ships Operators.
He gave assurance that the Council would facilitate the engagement of local and international bodies in both private and public Sectors towards the attainment of the objectives of establishing a Nigerian Fleet.
In a remark, the President of SOAN, Dr Mekgeorge Onyung, said the maritime Industry is the biggest business worldwide that held the key to unlocking the economic prosperity of Nigeria.
“We have the capacity and we want to implore you that we want to work together, nobody will re invent the wheel for us, it is already set just for us to do what others are doing”.