CABOTAGE FAILURE: Expert Raises Concerns Over Foreign Dominance  , Accuses NIMASA Over Lack Of Enforcement 

Former National President,Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association , Captain Thomas Kemewerigha has accused the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA over alleged  failure to enforce the cabotage act in the nation’s territorial water.

 

Kemewerigha an International Labour Convention (ILO) consultant in a chat with DAILYFOCUS NIGERIA over the weekend lamented that expatiate have dominated shipping activities in Nigeria without the flag state playing any major role in the enforcement of the cabotage laws.

 

According to him, seafarers were without jobs while foreign crew were trading in coastal and inland waters with cargoes.

 

He alleged that some vessels trading on Nigerian water are manned and crew by foreigners without any single Nigerian aboard.

 

The labour leader also disclosed that Onne waters are dominated with foreigners onboard ships without any checks from from the flag states.

 

He lamented that the situation was pathetic for Nigerian seafarers  roaming  about the streets, calling on  the flag state to  beef up enforcement in reviving cabotage operating in the country.

 

 

 

Kemewerigha noted that “The cabotage regime was suppose  to be the last hope of the Nigerian seafarers  and cadets inclusive but now is a cause to us all as most seafarers don’t  have hope of survival  due to expatriates  taking over of their jobs.

 

 

” Our cabotsge era is a failure  yet NIMASA says waivers are not granted.

 

 

“I strongly stand to be corrected  or challenged on this  information. One, representative of the foreign company  Cand i and Petro services are all foreigners.

 

” Secondly, the  port of operation is Onne and thirdly, the vessel names are (1)Levoli Coral (2) Levoli Grey and many more , crew on board these ships are  Italians and Ukraine from captain to cooks”,he alleged .

 

“This situation  is really pathetic  seeing how our seafarers  are roaming  about the streets, I wish and pray  the flag state will beaf up yo expectations”,he lamented.