By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The transparent way the leadership of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring (NCDMB) has administered the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI) Fund has been commended by Governing Council of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS).
During a visit to the board’s head office in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State last Thursday, President of NCS Governing Council, Mr Andy Isichei, said he was impressed with the phenomenal achievements of Mr Simbi Wabote led NCDMB.
According to him, Mr Wabote has administered the NCI Fund transparently, making the perennial funding challenge that had impeded the efficiency and competitiveness of local supply chain in the Nigerian oil and gas industry a thing of the past.
“We have observed the uncommon achievements of your board, hence we decided to come and voice our commendation to you and to encourage you to continue the good job you are doing.
“We are proud of your agency and want to collaborate with you to advocate and propagate the achievements of your board,” Mr Isichei said during the courtesy visit.
NCS is a trade association for the Nigerian maritime industry, comprising ship owners, tanker vessel operators, port/terminal operators, shipyard/dry dock owners, and upstream and downstream service operators in oil and gas sector, international maritime/shipping operators, maritime lawyers, and financial institutions. It is the umbrella body in Nigeria for stakeholders in the shipping/maritime sector.
Mr Isichei explained that the aims and objectives of NCS include to act as an advocate for the industry on issues of shipping policy (formulation, implementation and monitoring), maritime affairs, technical matters, to promote best practice among members to meet international standards, support the growth and development of international trade in Nigeria and to cooperate with other agencies, statutory and non-statutory, to ensure implementation of a regulated environment for effective maritime administration, safe shipping operations, and fair and competitive shipping cost regimes.
He stated that the courtesy visit to the board was motivated by the desire to advance the main objectives of the Chamber, which includes to promote the interest of its members and deepen international maritime commercial activities in Nigeria.
Thus, he added, “we want to collaborate with the Board in the area of training of Marine Cadets and other aspects of capacity building to optimize the gains of local content in the maritime industry.”
In his response, Mr Wabote thanked members of the NCS Governing Council for their kind remarks and interest in the activities of the Board. He explained that the Board is very disposed to partner with critical stakeholders like NCS ensure fulfilment of the Board’s mandate.
On the training of cadets, Mr Wabote explained that the board was willing to support any organisation that offers maritime cadet trainings, provided it’s able to demonstrate that they can grant the trainees requisite international certifications and sea time experience.
He also encouraged the NCS Governing Council members to explore the opportunity of partnering with the Maritime University, Okerenkoko Delta State, instead of foreign partnerships, to ensure that the various trainings they offer are domiciled in-country.
He urged NCS to come up a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to underpin its partnership aspirations with the Board for consideration and harmonization.
Dipo Olowookere 
Adedapo Adesanya