The Nigeria Shipowners Association (NISA) has affirmed commitment towards ensuring a robust working relations with President Bola Tinubu led federal government as part of efforts to promote indigenous shipping in the nation’s territorial waters.
Secretary of NISA, Otunba Olawale Jubril disclosed this in a chat over the weekend with DAILY FOCUS NIGERIA correspondent in Lagos.
In line with cabotage act, Jubril expressed optimism that the Association would engage the government and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), alongside the minister when appointed to ensure that indigenous operators benefit from the Jones Act.
The scribe noted that NISA under the new dispensation led by Sola Adewunmi will not fold its hands and allow foreign dominance on the nation’s territorial waters anymore stressing that the Association would draw a road map that would further enhance amd promote local content .
According to him, President Tinubu needs to understand operational activities about the benefits of maritime business noting that NISA would ensure that shipping trade is of priority to this present administration.
He further urged the government to inward and explore the maritime industry potential , even as the scribe expressed optimism that shipping sector in line with the mandate of the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF) will create more business opportunities for Indigenous operators.
Harping on the progress recorded so far under the new administration of NISA executives, after the commissioning of a benefitting secretariat in the heart of Apapa, Lagos Jubril also hinted the the Nigerian Maritime Expo also known as NIMAREX would hold in the first quarter of 2024 , assuring that the Association is waiting for the appointment of a new minister before further moralities would be put in place in furtherance to host a successful expo.
On the aggrieved members who are no longer part of the Association , the secretary enjoined them to come back and support the executives of NISA , in a bid to tackles some the challenges affecting ship owners in Nigeria .
He further expressed hopes that the nation’s maritime industry will perform better under the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
