Lawmakers seek overhaul of maritime law to grow economy

The House of Representatives has reiterated its call for the urgent need to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act of 2007, to enhance shipping operations in the country.

The lawmaking body stated this in Abuja on Friday at the presentation of a book titled, “Nigeria’s Shipping Policy and Maritime Trade up to the Early 21st Century, written by Edmund Chilaka.

At the event, the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration highlighted the need to revisit the 17-year-old NIMASA Act.

In a statement issued on Saturday, House spokesman, Akin Rotimi noted that the lower legislative chamber was represented at the event by the Chairman of the Committee, Khadijah Ibrahim (APC, Yobe) and Adebayo Samuel (APC, Lagos).

Areas of the amendment proposed by Adebayo include the modernisation of terms-replacing “Free on Board” with “Cost, Insurance and Freight,” in line with contemporary practices, introduction of an open international registry and enhancing prosecutorial powers of the agency.

Others will include strengthening Clause 17 (7) to enhance financial autonomy as well as improving coordination and avoiding duplication of functions among government agencies.

According to the statement, “Stakeholders and experts at the event emphasised the critical need to increase cargo allocations for indigenous shipowners.

“They argued that such measures would support sustainable local shipping operations and strengthen Sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act concerning the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund,” the statement read in part.

“The House initiative aims at revitalising dormant sectors of the Marine and Blue Economy and mitigate capital flight, which currently sees an estimated $9 billion annually in freight costs paid to foreign shipping lines,” Rotimi added.

Participants also call for clear cargo reservation policies and maintaining a percentage of cargo for domestic shipping companies, in addition to a more proactive role for NIMASA in international trade and cargo management.

The statement however lamented that “Despite the focus on NIMASA’s legislation, officials from the agency were notably absent from the event.