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| L-R: Executive Director Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service of NIMASA, Mr. Gambo Ahmed, The Managing Director Bank of Industry (BOI) Mr. Olukayode Pitan, The Director General NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, The General Manager Enterprises (BOI)Mr, Leonard Kange, DGM Oil and Gas of BOI Mrs Ebehi Ehi-Omoike and the Head Cabotage Services of NIMASA, Mr. Victor Egejuru when the leadership of BOI paid a courtesy visit to NIMASA recently. |
The possibility of having a single
digit facility for financing acquisition of maritime asset is receiving
possibility as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and
Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) met in that regard.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr.
DAkuku Peterside, gave the indication when the Managing Director of the Bank of
Industry (BOI), Olukayode Pitan, paid a courtesy visit to NIMASA at the
Agency’s corporate headquarters in Lagos.
The credit facility is meant to help
in the procurement of maritime assets to put operators in a position to compete
favourably with their foreign counterparts.
in the procurement of maritime assets to put operators in a position to compete
favourably with their foreign counterparts.
Peterside, who received the BOI
delegation, said the meeting with NIMASA was a follow up to the Agency’s
efforts to ensure that Nigerian players are competitive in the global maritime
arena.
delegation, said the meeting with NIMASA was a follow up to the Agency’s
efforts to ensure that Nigerian players are competitive in the global maritime
arena.
He said, “We have continuously sought
partnerships that would grow our industry. We know that maritime asset
financing is one of the major challenges of this industry and we are tackling
it head-on. In no distant future our people would be able to reap the benefits
of our strategy.”
partnerships that would grow our industry. We know that maritime asset
financing is one of the major challenges of this industry and we are tackling
it head-on. In no distant future our people would be able to reap the benefits
of our strategy.”
Speaking during the visit, Pitan
commended the NIMASA management led by Dakuku for its various transformative
initiatives in the maritime sector.
commended the NIMASA management led by Dakuku for its various transformative
initiatives in the maritime sector.
He said the initiatives had brought
renewed confidence in the maritime industry and BOI was ready to partner with
NIMASA because the viability of the sector would rub off on the entire economy.
renewed confidence in the maritime industry and BOI was ready to partner with
NIMASA because the viability of the sector would rub off on the entire economy.
The BOI managing director disclosed
that it had an existing financing model in partnership with the Nigerian
Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which could also benefit the
maritime sector if applied.
that it had an existing financing model in partnership with the Nigerian
Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which could also benefit the
maritime sector if applied.
He stated, “We are proposing a
partnership with NIMASA on vessel financing. We already have a similar
partnership with NCDMB that is currently running at a single digit of 8%, with
little or zero risk for NCDMB since the fund invested by NCDMB is guaranteed by
BOI. This model, we think, can also benefit NIMASA and the entire maritime
sector.”
partnership with NIMASA on vessel financing. We already have a similar
partnership with NCDMB that is currently running at a single digit of 8%, with
little or zero risk for NCDMB since the fund invested by NCDMB is guaranteed by
BOI. This model, we think, can also benefit NIMASA and the entire maritime
sector.”
At the end of the meeting, NIMASA and
BOI agreed, among other things, to work out modalities on financing the
acquisition of vessels at a single digit interest rate; provision of guarantee
for the funds that NIMASA would entrust to BOI; and management of the portfolio
to guarantee effectiveness.
BOI agreed, among other things, to work out modalities on financing the
acquisition of vessels at a single digit interest rate; provision of guarantee
for the funds that NIMASA would entrust to BOI; and management of the portfolio
to guarantee effectiveness.
It would be recalled that the management
of NIMASA under Peterside has consistently advocated a single digit interest
rate on borrowings to assist in the acquisition of maritime assets.
of NIMASA under Peterside has consistently advocated a single digit interest
rate on borrowings to assist in the acquisition of maritime assets.
