An expert in the martime industry, Professor Kelvin D. H. Bob-Manuel, has called on the  Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to properly enforce the Cabotage Act in order to optimise the benefits accruable to Nigeria’s maritime sector.
Professor Bom-Manuel, who gave this charge midweek as part of recommendations in his inaugural lecture, said this will be to the advantage of indigenous maritime operators.
“NIMASA should properly enforce the cabotage Act and drastically limit the wavers that are given to foreign vessels to operate in our territorial waters.
“This will enable our indigenous ship-owners and operators reap the benefit of Cabotage  and increase replacement of cadets and other graduates on board Nigeria registered vessels to gain seas experience. This measure will minimize the skills gap in the maritime industry”, he said.
Professor Bob-manul’s topic, titled “Technological  Advances in maritime Transportation and Engineering Impact on the Global and Nigerian Economy”, also recommended that the current monitoring policy on acquisition  should be received to favour indigenous operators.
Beyond this, he recommended that Nigeria needs to invest in both building / ship repair dockyard, as well as “vigorously enforce the Nigeria content policy in ship / boat building and repairs in the country”.
In addition, the professor of Maritime Engineering  (Ship Power Plant) continued, the collaboration between maritime training institutions and industries in research should be intensified to enable the Nation meet challenges of current and future technology.
He stated further that mitigation for maritime safely, prevention and control of environmental pollution in Nigeria’s territorial waters should include frequent safety orientation to boat operators.
According to him, monitoring and strict enforcement of material and domesticated International Maritime Organization by the appropriate government body should also be included.
The Carbotage Act, professor Bobmanuel said, spelt out four major condition upon which it’s implementation must be applied.
The are: that carbotage vessels must be wholly owned by Nigerians; be registered in Nigeria, manned by Nigerian crews; and that Nigeria ship yards must build and repair carbotage vessels.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Ag Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Professor Blessing Chimeze Didia extolled the achievements of the inaugural lectures as the first professor of Marine Engineering in West Africa/ South of the Sahara.
He used the opportunity to charge students and lectures alike to strive to also excel in their chosen areas of endearvour.