Ship owners to meet Buhari on cabotage implementation

AS part of measures to curtail drop in price of crude oil in the international market and fall in the revenue generation of the Federal Government, the Nigerian Ship Owners Association (NISA) has advised the government to pay more attention to the maritime industry.

The ship owners also resolved to send a proposal to President Muhammadu Buhari on how to raise revenue from the maritime industry.

At the general meeting of the association held in Lagos and presided over by its Acting President, Alhaji Aminu Umar, the ship owners explained that the maritime industry is the best alternative sector to shore up revenue for the Federal Government to make up for the shortfall from the oil and gas sector.

Top on the agenda of the proposal to be sent to the government, according to the NISA, is the implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act 2003 otherwise known as the Cabotage Act.

The NISA members, according to Ships & Port, enjoined the Federal Government to enforce total implementation of the Cabotage Act for the growth of the maritime industry and for employment generation.

It quoted NISA Acting President, Alhaji Aminu Umar as saying that the association would engage the new government of General Muhammadu Buhari on how to turn around the fortunes of the shipping sector.

Meanwhile, the leadership crisis rocking the association has continued unabated.

A faction led by Umar informed Journalists recently that the President of the association, Captain Niyi Labinjo has been suspended.

But, a swift reaction, Labinjo maintained that he remained the President of the association.