Nigeria targets floating national carrier in maritime sector

Freight forwarders support reforms

The Federal Government has taken a bold step towards establishing a national carrier in the maritime sector to further exploit the opportunities in the industry.

Already, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has inaugurated an implementation committee for its establishment.

This is coming as the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) threw its weight behind the on going restructuring exercise in the Management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

The Director General of NIMASA, Dakuku Peterside, while receiving members of NAGAFF in his office recently, assured that the Federal Government is committed to the actualization of the vision of a National Fleet for Nigeria.

He said: “We shall endeavor to do everything constitutionally possible, to ensure that a National Carrier is floated shortly. The Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has already inaugurated an implementation committee for its establishment”.

He also assured that NIMASA would undergo the entire gamut process of restructuring, reformation and repositioning in order to emerge more productive.

Peterside, who described the job of freight forwarders as indispensible to the shipping and logistics chain, assured the delegation that the current management took professionalism very seriously and therefore committed to partnering with NAGAFF, for that cutting edge expertise that only professionals can provide.

He said Freight Forwarders are a major stakeholder group in the maritime sector, which NIMASA must collaborate with in the area of revenue generation given the nation’s determination to diversify the economy from being oil dependent.

He that “because the country has come to a realization that oil is not enough to build our economy based on its dwindling price in the International market, we need to partner with relevant stakeholders to make our maritime sector more viable.”

Chairman, Board of Trustees, NAGAFF, Chidiebere Enelamah, during a courtesy visit to NIMASA recently called for a partnership with the group to enthrone professionalism and efficiency in ports operations for the economic benefit of the country.

The NAGAFF delegation also welcomed the new shipping line agenda of the Federal Government, saying that it was high time the nation took more than a passing interest in its huge import/export trade.