Agency Cautions Against Duplication Of Maritime Laws

Operators of Maritime are worried   over several maritime bills waiting to be passed into law by the National Assembly (NASS).

If passed into law, experts say the bills would be a duplication of some of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s (NIMASA) function.

The bills, they noted, would likely bring conflict among the agencies during implementation period.

The President of National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Amiwero, has maintained that the National Assembly is confused because of the bills, stressing that they should be careful to ensure they do not replicate agencies that would end up fighting each other  rather than providing services to Nigerians.

According to him, there was no reason for the Federal Government to set up another maritime security agency, which would oversee oil platforms and other maritime facilities, According to him, NIMASA could do that with the Coastguard Bill which is before the National Assembly in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy. He explained that it is countries like USA and Britain that operate Coastguards, expressing fear whether NIMASA would have the fund to maintain the unit or department if passed into law.

For the chairman, Seafarers Board, Kunle Folarin, he called for harmonisation of the bills to know which body is in charge of the implementation of each function to avoid clash of interests.

He pointed out that some private bodies are sponsoring bills to the National Assembly stressing that even if they are passed into law, there should be clear mandate of their functions to avoid bringing the maritime sector into chaos at the end of the day.