By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has dismissed allegations that it has been granting waivers to shipping firms.
It also refuted allegations of preferential treatment to foreign shipping companies in the shipment of petroleum products.
The Director-General of NIMASA, Mr Bashir Jamoh, made the clarifications during an investigative hearing titled Urgent need to ensure strict compliance with statutory regulations and provisions regarding the Nigerian diving sector organised by the Senate Committee on Local Content.
The Ship Owners Association of Nigeria had petitioned the Senate, asking it to intervene in what the group described as unfavourable treatment and injustice towards indigenous shipping companies, which gave undue advantage to their foreign competitors.
However, the NIMASA boss denied giving any waiver or preferential treatment to foreign firms.
He said that the agency lacked the power to grant waivers, while the Ministry of Transportation, which was empowered by law to grant waivers, had never granted any waiver for 15 years.
He said, “The operation of the Cabotage Act provides that NIMASA has the responsibility under Section 5 (2) to 5 (4) to process waiver and not to grant a waiver. NIMASA never grants a waiver, but only processes waiver.
“As the minister mentioned, if we process, we send it to the Ministry of Transportation for the minister’s consideration and approval; and to the best of my knowledge, for over 15 years, no minister granted a waiver.
“So, if the shipping companies or shipowners take waiver processing fee payment as a waiver, we shouldn’t call it waiver. NIMASA doesn’t give waiver and I want anybody to come and present waiver given by NIMASA or Ministry of Transportation.
“In fact, even though the act under section 9 (12) gives the Ministers of Transportation powers to approve waivers, they don’t do so because they don’t want to encourage foreign vessels participation over local vessels.”
The Chairman of the Committee and former Senate Leader, Mr Teslim Folarin, cautioned against trading blames among the agencies.
He said, “The whole essence of this investigative hearing is not to trade blames.
“We understand that they don’t have enough vessels; they don’t have the capacity, but the capacity cannot come from heaven.”
