• To end capital flight and retain Dollars
in Nigeria
in Nigeria
 |
| DG NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside |
Nigerians will be able to lift its
country’s crude oil for export immediately the national fleet comes into
operation, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has said.
country’s crude oil for export immediately the national fleet comes into
operation, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside has said.
Dakuku, who was speaking at a media
breakfast meeting on the sideline of the ongoing Nor-Shipping Conference
and Exhibition in Oslo, Norway, said such an outcome would end the capital
flight associated with the present arrangement where Nigeria sells its oil on
free on board basis to customers.
The NIMASA DG said the new national fleet
would be owned 49 per cent by a technical partner and the balance of 51 per cent
by Nigerian investors. According to the plan, the Nigerian investors will hold
equity in lots, so there will be no domineering shareholder.
would be owned 49 per cent by a technical partner and the balance of 51 per cent
by Nigerian investors. According to the plan, the Nigerian investors will hold
equity in lots, so there will be no domineering shareholder.
The national fleet is part of the country’s
new strategic direction on the blue economy, which is designed to tap its
maritime potentials. He invited local and foreign investors who are interested
in the project to partner with the country.
new strategic direction on the blue economy, which is designed to tap its
maritime potentials. He invited local and foreign investors who are interested
in the project to partner with the country.
The opportunity in crude freight is just
one of the many potentials in the sector. He said the country was also taking
its maritime security serious and had invested in the acquisition of security
assets to boost the policing of its waters.
one of the many potentials in the sector. He said the country was also taking
its maritime security serious and had invested in the acquisition of security
assets to boost the policing of its waters.
These assets include patrol boats,
helicopter, unmanned air vessels and naval ships. He noted that the assets,
acquired under the ‘Deep Blue Project’, which he calls a homeland security
solution, would be operational by September this year.
helicopter, unmanned air vessels and naval ships. He noted that the assets,
acquired under the ‘Deep Blue Project’, which he calls a homeland security
solution, would be operational by September this year.
Dr Dakuku Peterside called on investors to
tap into the rich potentials of the maritime sector in Nigeria saying the
government has incentivised the sector with offers of tax holidays and
institutional support.
tap into the rich potentials of the maritime sector in Nigeria saying the
government has incentivised the sector with offers of tax holidays and
institutional support.
Nigeria, he reminded his audience, is an
investment-friendly environment with comprehensive maritime security, a robust
financial sector and seven port complexes.
investment-friendly environment with comprehensive maritime security, a robust
financial sector and seven port complexes.
The country accounts for 70 per cent
of seaborne trade into West Africa and is endowed with a skilled workforce and
the world’s ninth largest hydrocarbon deposits.
of seaborne trade into West Africa and is endowed with a skilled workforce and
the world’s ninth largest hydrocarbon deposits.
