By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Lawmakers call for Maritime Law overhaul
The House of Representatives has highlighted the urgent need to amend the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act of 2007 to enhance shipping operations in the country.
This was announced in Abuja on Friday during the presentation of a book titled, “Nigeria’s Shipping Policy and Maritime Trade up to the Early 21st Century,” written by Edmund Chilaka. At the event, the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education, and Administration emphasized the importance of revisiting the 17-year-old NIMASA Act.
In a statement issued on Saturday, House spokesman Akin Rotimi noted that the lower legislative chamber was represented by the Chairman of the Committee, Khadijah Ibrahim (APC, Yobe), and Adebayo Samuel (APC, Lagos).
Proposed amendments by Adebayo include modernizing terms by replacing “Free on Board” with “Cost, Insurance and Freight,” introducing an open international registry, and enhancing the agency’s prosecutorial powers. Other proposed changes involve strengthening Clause 17 (7) to boost financial autonomy and improving coordination among government agencies to avoid duplication of functions.
Lawmakers Call for Maritime Law Overhaul
According to the statement, “Stakeholders and experts at the event emphasized the critical need to increase cargo allocations for indigenous shipowners. They argued that such measures would support sustainable local shipping operations and strengthen Sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act concerning the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund,” the statement read in part.
“The House initiative aims at revitalizing dormant sectors of the Marine and Blue Economy and mitigating capital flight, which currently sees an estimated $9 billion annually in freight costs paid to foreign shipping lines,” Rotimi added.
Participants also called for clear cargo reservation policies and maintaining a percentage of cargo for domestic shipping companies, in addition to a more proactive role for NIMASA in international trade and cargo management.
The statement, however, lamented that “Despite the focus on NIMASA’s legislation, officials from the agency were notably absent from the event.”
Lawmakers Call for Maritime Law Overhaul