NIMASA restates commitment to Cabotage implementation

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, has assured all indigenous operators in the maritime sector, of the Agency’s commitment to protecting their rights under the Cabotage regime. Akpobolokemi stated this in a good will message at the commissioning and flag-off of two 45,000 metric tons sea-going vessels, MT Abiola and MT Igbinosa, owned by Ocean Marine Tankers Limited in Warri, Delta State.
The NIMASA boss commended the management of Ocean Marine Tankers Limited, owners of the vessels, for taking a bold step to invest in the Nigerian maritime sector, urging more Nigerians to invest in the ownership of ocean-going vessels.

Also speaking, Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Affairs, Mr. Leke Oyewole,said that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has provided the enabling environment for effective implementation of the Cabotage regime in Nigeria.
On his part, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Local Content Developing Monitoring Board (NLCDMB), Engr. Ernest Nwakpa, praised the Jonathan administration for providing the political muscle to break the monopoly enjoyed by foreign flagged vessels in the freight of Nigerian crude.