An expert in Transport Logistics and Port Operations, Dr. Edmund Chilaka, has called on the Federal Government to fully implement the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003.
Chilaka made the call recently during his book launch titled “Nigeria’s Shipping Policy and Maritime Trade up to the Early 21st Century”, in Lagos.
Chilaka, who lectures at the University of Lagos, said cabotage would enhance carriage of goods and services by indigenous shipowners within Nigerian waters and stimulate the development of indigenous capacity.
He stressed the need to implement sections 35 to 38 of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act (NIMASA Act 2007).
The Maritime  expert said the NIMASA Act provided for indigenous carriers to carry Federal, State, and Local Government cargo which was referred to as the cabotage law.
He noted that the law also recognised operators who were keen in bringing economic empowerment of Nigerian carriers into effect.
The lecturer said the law should also be amended to bring back the cargo allocation era, empower indigenous shippers and ensure training of Nigerian seafarers.
Chilaka said his newly-published book was all about advocacy to revive the implementation of Sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act 2007.
“This is an epoch-making event which seeks to prepare good grounds for our national economy to regain lost grounds in the maritime trade sector”, he stated.
He noted that the present advocacy to revive the implementation of sections 35-38 of the NIMASA Act was to give the agency the second tangible reason for being in existence aside from port and flag state functions.
He said without achieving this objective of helping Nigerian carriers to participate in international shipping trade, NIMASA’s efficiency and Key Performance Indices (KPIs) would continue to be seen as incomplete.
According to him, NIMASA’s present sole concentration on safer shipping and cleaner oceans cannot create a nationally beneficial industry.
Consequently, he said the agency should work toward the anticipated potential for growth, which the founding fathers of Nigeria’s maritime policies envisioned for the economy and Nigerians in general.
“Last year, after I was appointed a visiting Research Fellow by Liverpool John Moores University, I prioritised the search for solutions to the problems of Nigerian carriers who are sidelined from participating in international shipping by the lack of access to cargo,” Chilaka said.