...As Shippers’ Council Calls for Improved Inter-agency Synergy
Dr. Jamoh made the assertion when he received Executive
Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hon. Emmanuel Jime, who led
a delegation from the Council on a courtesy visit to NIMASA at the Agency’s headquarters
in Lagos.
Jamoh stated that the international shipping community had
acknowledged the progress made by Nigeria in her quest for security in the Gulf
of Guinea, as confirmed by recent reports by the International Maritime Bureau
(IMB). He said the sharp decrease in maritime incidents logged in IMB’s second
quarter report was a valuable feedback on the Agency’s campaign for Nigeria’s
delisting from countries under the war risk insurance burden, and an indication
that the shipping community looked forward to sustenance of the progress made.
According to the Director General, “Feedback on our campaign for Nigeria to be removed from countries paying war risk insurance premium on inbound cargoes has confirmed that the international shipping community is watching developments in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea with keen interest. Their desire is to see a sustainability of the positive developments in recent times leading to a drastic decline in piracy attacks in Nigerian waters and the Gulf of Guinea.”
With adequate sensitisation of the international shipping community, I am sure that our quest to be removed from nations considered to have dangerous waters will soon materialise for the benefit of Nigerian shippers.”On his part, Jime called for greater collaboration among
relevant government agencies to enable the country derive the full economic
benefits of the maritime sector. He commended NIMASA for placing fleet expansion
at the heart of her efforts to encourage indigenous participation in the
maritime industry.
The Executive Secretary stressed that there was no better
time to have a national carrier than now, when the world was gradually looking
away from fossil fuels, the current mainstay of the Nigerian economy.
Jime stated, “Nigeria cannot be caught unawares. We need to
look at ways of developing our shipping sector, which, from studies, is capable
of earning the country even more than oil annually. And maritime security is
pivotal to achieving this goal.”