Business

Transforming Ship Registry In Nigeria

Published

16 years ago

July 20, 2009

Maritime nations all over the world evolve strategies and methodologies of modernising ship registry for the purpose of enhancing national tonnage.
In the pursuit of goal tonnage enhancement and transformation, nations adopt cut-edge technology both direct and indirect marketing of the national flag and other known effective methods in their registration of vessels.
Of course, every maritime country however adopt strategies that influence specific objectives of the country and such objectives are not expected to threaten the interest of global maritime.
Besides the drive for local tonnage to achieve desired goal, the maritime nation players have also adopted systems of close or open registry of vessels. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) by the statute establishing it is responsible for organising, shipping activities and development. It was in consonance of this that late 2008, NIMASA made its intention known to the registration of ships in Nigeria.
The Nigerian ship registration office performs flag state responsibilities of NIMASA, as enshrined in Section 16 of the Merchant Shipping Act of 2007. Section 28 (2) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act, 2007 also established the office of the registrar of ship and that of the deputy registrar of ship.
The NIMASA ship registry unit conducts all flag registration duty from the head office location of the agency as guaranteed in its regulation.
NIMASA Act of 2007, in accordance with International Maritime Organisation (IMO) global practices, anticipates the efficiency of the Nigerian Ship Registration Office especially when operators can access the services from other operational location.
The creation of the office of the deputy registrars of ship, many believe is a demonstration of the agency’s commitment to structure the Nigerian ship registration office to reflect the changing trend in the modern international maritime operations.
The decision of the Agency to formally establish ship registration desks in Warri and Calabar was to complement registration service offered from Lagos and Port Harcourt as provided in the NIMASA Act of 2007.
By this development, the ship registration service in Nigeria have been taken to the door steps of vessel owners, even as it enables Nigerians in diaspora to take advantage of the increased accessibility offered by the decentralisation through any of the mentioned locations to fly the Nigerian flag.
Preliminary modernisation programmes and measures taken by the agency have resulted in the electronic up-load of over 3,200 vessels of different categories of data being integrated to the web link of the agency. Daily vessel registration details are transferred electronically to the data base with the aim of updating available web information.
NIMASA’s modernisation and transformation programmes could also be appreciated in the area of mutual sharing of vessels details between the agency and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The information sharing approach influences the NNPC and other international oil companies for Nigerian flagged vessels in the award of contract in the current cabotage regime.
The benefits for registration and decentralisation services include enhanced access to registration service, reduced cost of logistics particularly for up-country vessel owners and fast tracked vessels registration process amongst others.
Nigerian ship registration office has also developed relevant templates to guide applicants on-line. On completion of the automation process, applicants are expected to download relevant ship registration forms, upload required documents for vessels registration, effect payment of registration via an on-line payment engine as well as take delivery of provisional certificates of registry on-line.
However, the modernisation of the ship registration process has been extended to cabotage registration. Subject to applicant’s submission of all documents, the Nigerian ship registration office developed on-line templates to achieve cabotage registration of vessels in 48 hours.
The deployment of multi-skilled human capital by NIMASA is another strategy for meeting the technical, administrative and legal requirement. This move informed NIMASA to articulate a “Fly Nigeria” initiative embodying the genuine principles of safety, as a condition for flying the Nigerian flag.
The overall end result of the modernisation and transformation programme is the reformation of processes and procedures of flag state toward promoting efficiency and unparallel advisory services to the external public of the Nigerian ship registration office. Even at times, the Agency has not relented at directing its efforts at professionalising the ship registry as critical vehicle for service efficiency.
Staff of the registry office visit some foreign ship registries, including the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency of the United Kingdom and the Singaporean ship registry office as part of efforts to update knowledge and enhance service delivery.
Similarly, working attachments to the Panama, Hellenic and Malaysian ship registry was also pursued towards full professionalisation of the ship registry, to expose staff of Nigerian ship registry office to challenges of an ICT driven registration services.
Demonstrating commitment to global maritime safety, NIMASA’s efforts to approve the America-Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas and Lloyds registry among others was seen as a welcome development to classify societies for conventional vessels of 500 tonnes and above.
Although much efforts have been made by the agency towards the transformation and modernisation of Nigerian ship registry, even as it was committed to eliminate delay of the past and engender new culture of professionalism and efficiency in service delivery, a lot more is needed to attain and sustain full transformation and modernisation of Nigeria flag ship registration.
In this era of cabotage, and with the quest to be one of the leading maritime nations, it may not be out of place for Nigeria to shift from theories to actual accomplishment goals in this direction.
The international players are on the watch to se Nigeria totally transformed and modernise her flag vessel registry, and the task is before NIMASA.

Business

Ban On Satchet Alcoholic Drinks: FG To Loss N2trillion, says FOBTOB

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Ahead the December 31 effective date for enforcement of the ban on alcoholic drinks and beverages in PET or glass bottles below 200ml, the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) has warned that Nigeria risks losing more than N2 trillion in investments.

The union urged the federal government to reverse the planned ban, cautioning that the Senate’s directive to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) would trigger severe socioeconomic consequences across the industry.

Speaking at a Press Conference, in Lagos, the President of FOBTOB, Jimoh Oyibo, said repealing the directive would prevent massive job losses and protect the country from economic disruption.

“Repealing the order would avert the grave repercussions that would most definitely follow the ban, especially by saving approximately 5.5 million jobs, both direct and indirect,” he said.

Oyibo appealed to the Senate to invite stakeholders to a public hearing, insisting that all parties must be allowed to present their positions before any decision is made.

“For a fair hearing and to demonstrate good faith, the Senate should invite relevant stakeholders to a Public Hearing to ‘hear the other side’ and be adequately informed to make an informed decision,” he said.

The union leader urged the Senate to carefully review and endorse the validated National Alcohol Policy, describing it as a multi-sectoral framework developed after last year’s public hearing, when the initial call for the ban was raised.

He urged the lawmakers to consider the entire value chain in the alcoholic beverage industry, including formal and informal workers and legitimate local manufacturers, before approving any enforcement.

Highlighting the economic implications, Oyibo said close to N2 trillion invested in machinery and raw materials could be wasted, while over 500,000 direct workers and an estimated five million indirect workers, including suppliers, distributors, marketers, and logistics operators, could lose their livelihoods.

He said “Nearly N2 trillion worth of investments in machinery and raw materials could be lost. Indigenous Nigerian manufacturers risk total collapse, discouraging future investments.

“Smuggling and the circulation of unregulated alcoholic products may skyrocket, worsening public health dangers. Government tax revenue could decline sharply as factories shut down or scale back operations.

“With rising unemployment and no safety nets, this ban will plunge families into poverty. The very children the policy claims to protect may be forced out of school if their parents lose their jobs”.

Business

Estate Developer Harps On Real Estate investment

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A Canadian based Nigerian Estate Developer, Andrew Enofie, has said that diversification of investment into the real estate sector remains the key to business sustainability.

Enofie said this during the launch of The Golden Gate investments, in Port Harcourt, recently.

He said real estate sector has always remain stable during period of inflations, adding that diversification into the sector would ensure that businesses never loose out during such periods.

He also called on Nigerian businessmen to put their money into the Canadian estate industry with the view to reaping maximum benefit.

According to him, Canada has one of the lowest inflation rate in the world and Nigerian businessmen can reap benefits by putting their monies into the Canadian estate sector.

Enofie said his company, with many years of experience in the real estate sector, can assist Nigerian businessmen with the quest to acquire property in Canada.

According to him, investors have more opportunities to diversify their funds, saying “it also open doors for investors to invest in the Canadian real estate market.

“With the launch of this fund, we are strategically positioned to navigate current market dynamics,r3 rising demand, shifting rates and evolving economic trends, while focusing on sustainable growth”, he said.

Also speaking, an investor, Mike Ifeanyi, also called on investors to invest in real estate.

He commended the company for its pledged to assist Nigerian businessmen willing to invest in Canada, but added that the whole thing must be transparently done inorder to avoid fraud.

Also speaking, Chukwudi Kelvin, yet another investor, described the event as an eye opener, stressing that time has come for Nigerian investors to go into the Canadian estate sector.

By: John Bibor,/Isaiah Blessing/Umunakwe Ebere/Afini Awajiokikpom

Business

FG Reaffirms Nigeria-First Policy To Boost Local Industry, Expand Non-oil Exports

Published

7 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its continued commitment to driving Nigeria-First policy aimed at encouraging local manufacturers and improving the economy through the non-export sector.

This is as the National Assembly has revealed that a bill for establishing a Weights and Measures Centre is advancing.

Delivering the keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 Nigerian International Trade Fair, in Lagos, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, (FMITI), Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, said that government would continue to promote locally made goods.

Oduwole stated that the fair was not only an opportunity to showcase the best of Nigerian products but ensuring that the country continues to accelerate its non-oil exports under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister noted that the government’s reforms are working and demands a lot of support from all stakeholders.

In her words, “Already, our non-oil exports have grown by 14 per cent. Our exports to the rest of Africa was the fastest growing at 24 per cent last year Q1, year-on-year, CBN released the results at the end of Q1.

“Now, this shows us that our goods are in demand across Africa. Earlier this year, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment opened an air cargo corridor in partnership with Uganda Air, and we mapped 13 Southern and Eastern African countries who want Nigerian products. We understood that they want our fashion, they want our light manufacturing, our food, our snacks, plantain chips, chin chin.

“They also want our zobo, our shea butter, beauty products. The things we take for granted here, our slippers, our hair wigs, are things that are in demand across the continent. And so we’re here to support our Nigerian exhibitors and to welcome our friends across Africa and across the world.

“Exhibitors, buyers who are interested in purchasing, we’re interested in growing these businesses. So a business that is a small business this year should be a medium-sized business in the next five years. Each trade fair has its uses, each trade fair has its conveners, and really, to be honest, there cannot be too many.

“This trade fair, traditionally, has been the largest in the country, and we want to bring it back to its former glory. There’s nothing like a competition.

On her part, the Executive Director, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, Vera Safiya Ndanusa, said the board would, in the coming months, champion structured and modernised regulatory frameworks for trade fairs and exhibitions.

She stressed that reviving the Tafawa Balewa Complex was part of a broader mission to strengthen confidence in the nation’s trade infrastructure, while stimulating industrial activity and showcasing the enormous potential of the nation’s citizens.

“Most importantly, we remain the only agency in Nigeria expressly mandated by law to organise trade fairs, and we intend to restore that statutory responsibility to the prominence it deserves ensuring coherence, quality, and national alignment in trade events across the country.

“We will be deepening our engagement with NACCIMA, whose partnership has historically anchored the success of organised trade in Nigeria, while also strengthening ties with ECOWAS, continental business groups, and international partners who share our vision for a more integrated African marketplace.

“In the coming months, we will champion a more structured and modernised regulatory framework for trade fairs and exhibitions, one that protects stakeholders, ensures standards, and positions Nigeria as a credible and well organised destination for regional and continental commerce”, she stated.

She noted that as Africa embraces the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area, a new momentum was building across the continent.

“For Nigeria, AfCFTA is not just an economic framework; it is a pathway to industrialisation, job creation, and intra-African collaboration.

“This complex must play a central role in that journey. We intend to make this fairground a primary entry point for African trade, a marketplace where producers and buyers from across the continent meet, a logistics hub connected to regional value chains, a centre for cross-border SME activity, and a launchpad for Nigerian businesses looking to expand beyond our borders.

“To achieve this, we are intentionally expanding access to markets physically, economically, and digitally. We are working to make participation more affordable for SMEs, women-led enterprises, and young entrepreneurs. We are improving mobility within and around the complex. A truly vibrant trade ecosystem must be inclusive, and inclusivity begins with access,” she stated.

Chairman, House Committee on Commerce, Ahmed Munir, commended Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, ED LITF and her team, for promoting the platform as a veritable marketplace of ideas, innovation, and partnership.

He said the event was a clear reflection of the economic agenda of the current administration, supported by Speaker Rt. Hon.Abbas Tajudeen.

According to him, “The House of Representatives recognises that the engine of our economy is the private sector, particularly our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which contribute nearly 50 per cent to our GDP and employ the vast majority of our citizens.

“To create the competitive environment they need, the National Assembly has been working assiduously to pass and amend vital legislation to enhance the Ease of Doing Business by Streamlining regulatory bottlenecks and reinforcing essential infrastructure to make business operations simpler and more predictable.”

He stressed that as policy makers they would continue to promote the “Nigeria First” Policy through robust legislative support, ensuring that government ministries and agencies prioritise locally manufactured goods in all public procurement processes. “This is our clear statement: We must buy Nigerian to build Nigeria.

“Also to ensure quality and standards, the bill for establishing a Weights and Measures Centre is advancing. Quality is not optional; rather, it is the key to consumer trust and international competitiveness,” he said.