NIMASA to partner Niger, landlocked countries to grow business

Worried by the declining volume of import business in the nation’s vis-à-vis the low dwindling of revenue generated from the port especially at this time of economic downturn, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is considering the option of partnering landlocked countries like Niger to grow volume.

Dakuku Peterside, director general of NIMASA said that Nigeria, which has a coastline of 853km and about 200 nautical miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), needs to maximise the benefits of its vast coastline to facilitate trade in the West African sub-region.

Speaking when the members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee of the Nigeria/Niger Joint Commission for Co-operation and Transportation led by the chairman, Peter Utsu, paid a courtesy visit to the Agency’s Headquarters in Lagos, the NIMASA boss said that Nigeria must cooperate with other countries including its landlocked neighbours like Niger Republic to facilitating trade.

According to him, NIMASA as a regulatory agency takes pride in facilitating trade using the maritime sector as the common denominator.

Earlier in his address, the chairman of the committee, who said Nigeria has been able to combat crime especially terrorism by co-operating with this landlocked country, added that collaboration by the two West African countries especially in the areas of transportation would be of great benefit to both countries as it would facilitate trade, create job opportunities and foster bilateral relationships.

In another development, NIMASA expressed its commitment to the implementation of the 1992 International Civil Liability Convention and the 1992 International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund.

Peterside, who was at the 7th meeting of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Implementation of the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund and related conventions in Nigeria held in Abuja, recently, said that the agency is working hard to ensure that our marine environment is free from all sorts of pollution. “This entails preventing and controlling pollution from all sources such as ship based and land based sources.”

The DG further said that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed this compensation regime, which helps victims of oil pollution damage to obtain compensation and for governments to be reimbursed for cost of oil spill clean-up.

The international compensation regime as developed under the auspices of the IMO comprises two main conventions, which are- the 1992 International Civil Liability convention and the 1992 International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund. Nigeria has ratified both conventions and therefore has the obligation for its effective implementation.

Uzoamaka Anagor-Ewuzie