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| President of Nigeria Indigenous Shipowners Association, Mr. Aminu Umar |
The President of the Nigeria Indigenous Shipowners
Association (NISA) Mr. Aminu Umar, has called attention on the need for proper
maintenance of the nation’s seaport channels.
Association (NISA) Mr. Aminu Umar, has called attention on the need for proper
maintenance of the nation’s seaport channels.
Speaking on the challenges that ship owners
face in their operations, Umar urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to
address the issue of maintaining the port channels and ensuring safety around
the channels.
face in their operations, Umar urged the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to
address the issue of maintaining the port channels and ensuring safety around
the channels.
He said: “We believe that maintaining the
channels and making sure the channels are safe are part of the duties and
responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority. And ship owners pay for these
things. We pay for every ship that comes in, we pay for channel management, and
we pay for harbours, for towage and for pilotage as well.
channels and making sure the channels are safe are part of the duties and
responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority. And ship owners pay for these
things. We pay for every ship that comes in, we pay for channel management, and
we pay for harbours, for towage and for pilotage as well.
“If they don’t put in place these things
that we pay for, it means they are not delivering on their service. We believe
the NPA should look into that, to ensure that the services we pay for are being
delivered.”
that we pay for, it means they are not delivering on their service. We believe
the NPA should look into that, to ensure that the services we pay for are being
delivered.”
Speaking at the ship finance conference
held in Lagos recently, Umar told newsmen that besides the issue of ship
financing, which Ship Owners hope would be addressed through the Cabotage
Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), the challenge of poor port infrastructure
required urgent attention.
held in Lagos recently, Umar told newsmen that besides the issue of ship
financing, which Ship Owners hope would be addressed through the Cabotage
Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF), the challenge of poor port infrastructure
required urgent attention.
Umar said: “As ship owners, we categorize
infrastructure into three folds; one is for ship that comes Nigeria and is at
sea, not coming in. Another is for when the ship is about coming into the port
of Nigeria, which is, transiting through the channels. Then, we have the
infrastructure when the ship is alongside at the terminal. So, you can see that
the government controls the one at the outside and the one transiting through
the channel.
infrastructure into three folds; one is for ship that comes Nigeria and is at
sea, not coming in. Another is for when the ship is about coming into the port
of Nigeria, which is, transiting through the channels. Then, we have the
infrastructure when the ship is alongside at the terminal. So, you can see that
the government controls the one at the outside and the one transiting through
the channel.
“The terminals have been concessioned to
private owners. But the main issue for a ship owner is not the gears to
discharge cargo at the terminal, it is the infrastructure in the transit; the
channels are not well dredged, no tug boats there to assist the vessel.”
private owners. But the main issue for a ship owner is not the gears to
discharge cargo at the terminal, it is the infrastructure in the transit; the
channels are not well dredged, no tug boats there to assist the vessel.”
Umar said that vessels had been
encountering accidences on their way coming inside the ports because the
channels lacked adequate maintenance.
encountering accidences on their way coming inside the ports because the
channels lacked adequate maintenance.
He added that “In the event there is need
for a vessel on an emergency basis off-shore anywhere in Nigeria, nothing is in
place to help you.”
for a vessel on an emergency basis off-shore anywhere in Nigeria, nothing is in
place to help you.”
Maritime industry stakeholders had gathered on December 18, at the Nigeria Ship Finance Conference and Exhibition in Lagos to discuss and
seek solutions to issues on ship and port infrastructure financing in Nigeria.
seek solutions to issues on ship and port infrastructure financing in Nigeria.
