By Roland Ekama
The Nigeria Merchant Navy Officers and Water Transport Senior Staff Association (NMNOWTSSA) on Wednesday in Lagos, underscored for ship owners to work closely with seafarers toward ensuring the effective implementation of the cabotage laws.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Nigeria affiliate group , said employers and employees in the Marine and Blue Economy circle have potentials to discourage foreign dominance from the nation’s territorial waters if they can harmonize to promote local content.
Speaking at a brief ceremony in honour of the President, Nigeria Ship Owners Association (NISA) Otunba Sola Adewumi for his contribution to shipping development, Secretary General of NMNOWTSSA Comrade John Okpono Aleakhue solicited for NISA to work with the seafarers’ body to discourage the ” Nigerian factor”, saying that 21 years down the line , nothing has been achieved in line with the cabotage laws.
Aleakhue called on ship owners to partner with the seafarers’ union for effective share of information adding that one of the major challenges facing local content is centred on “Nigeria factor”.
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On his , President of NISA expressed concerns over the Nigerian shipping industry, noting that most of the ship owners are out of business.
Adewumi noted that the Cabotage Vessel Financial Fund is not the issue facing the sub sector but added that creation of opportunity for ship owners.
According to him, cabotage laws need aggressive implementation by the government adding that NISA is in the forefront to push for a collective ocean liner to promote local content and employment of Nigerian seafarers.
He stated that relevant authorities failed it their capabilities to promote shipping development in Nigeria adding that ship owners have their own fair sharing in the pitfall to grow local capacity.
The NISA boss lamented that management of NIMASA failed to cooperate with ship owners under Bashir Jamoh administration as Director General.
He also expressed optimism that the new DG of NIMASA would work closely with ship owners adding that cabotage laws would provide jobs for Nigerians .
Adewumi said NISA is working behind the scene to ensure that shipping development in Nigeria stay afloat rather to go into extinction.
The President called on ship owners irrespective of the various groups to speak with a single voice and discourage foreign dominance in the nation’s territorial waters.
“It is in unity that we can achieve this struggle which is long overdue, because as we speak some ship owners are no longer in business because of the poor implementation of the cabotage laws “, Adewumi noted.
Meanwhile, highpoint of the meeting was the presentation of award to the President of NISA by top executives of the union.
Adewumi was among some of the recipients pencilled down for an award at the recently concluded 2nd Quadrennial Delegates Conference put together by the NMNOWTSSA.
Adewumi won the Humanitarian Man of the Year 2024 Award.
