By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has announced stricter enforcement of statutory requirements governing indigenous participation in Nigeria’s Cabotage trade and maritime activities.
The agency said the move was aimed at ensuring that maritime jobs and business opportunities reserved for Nigerians are not outsourced to foreign operators.
The new enforcement regime was contained in a Marine Notice issued on Wednesday pursuant to NIMASA’s mandate under the NIMASA Act 2007, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, as well as relevant regulations and implementation guidelines.
Under the new regime, individuals and companies requiring vessels for Cabotage operations must use vessels that satisfy Nigeria’s ownership, registration, manning and construction requirements.
Such vessels must also be duly registered in the Special Register for Vessels and Ship Owning Companies Engaged in Cabotage.
NIMASA further directed vessel owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders involved in Cabotage activities to maintain valid statutory certificates, licences, registrations and other mandatory documentation.
The agency said Cabotage vessels must, where applicable, be wholly owned by Nigerian citizens, registered in the relevant Special Register, manned by Nigerians and built in Nigeria.
However, foreign vessels may only be deployed where the required Nigerian capacity is unavailable and the statutory conditions have been established and verified by NIMASA.
The agency warned that vessels and operators that fail to comply with the requirements could face enforcement action under the existing legal framework.
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NIMASA said the enhanced enforcement would strengthen maritime governance, promote indigenous participation and deepen local capacity in Nigeria’s shipping industry.
It added that the measure would also ensure that the Cabotage regime contributes more meaningfully to Nigeria’s maritime and broader economic development.
The Marine Notice takes immediate effect.
