President, Nigerian Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Captain Ade Olopenia has called for the review of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act also known as the cabotage law by the federal government saying it has not achieved the set objectives for which it was created.
Speaking with SHIPS & PORTS DAILY in his office yesterday, Olopeania who noted that the industry has not benefitted from the provisions of the Act said there is an urgent need for government to take a second look at the law following complaints from industry stakeholders over its failed implementation 12 years after it was enacted.
“We believe that government should take a second look at the cabotage law because it is over 10 years old and because of complaints here and then, it has not worked so the law requires a review.
“There have been several amendments and guidelines on the law but it has not really work the way it should work so what that means is that it should be reviewed probably this year taking into cognizance the complaints of the industry over the past 10 years,” he said.
The master mariner also called for the creation of a national maritime policy which according to him will serve as the benchmark for how the maritime industry will be driven.
He said that the creation of a right maritime policy will help develop capacity thereby creating employment opportunities in the country.
According to him, the desired objectives in the sector cannot be achieved if there are no clearly define laid down policies on the way forward.
“We want a national maritime policy which is open to everybody and they know what Nigeria’s policy on maritime is and clearly defined. This is very important because that is what we drive the industry itself.
“We have been talking about unemployment, if our policy is right; the maritime sector is a place where we can generate a lot of employment for the youths as well. If we have good policies, we will have more Nigerians employed on board vessels,” he said.
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