NIMASA Honours Late Otunba Folarin, Names Vessel After Octogenarian
L-R President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapomo, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, Chairman, Integrated Oil and Gas Services Ltd, DG, NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and Mrs. Jean-Chiazor Anishere, SAN at Thursday’s Colloquium in honour of late Otunba Kunle Folarin
*Stakeholders eulogize late Otunba
*As DG promises stakeholders engagement on CVFF disbursement
* Iheanacho cautions if CVFF vessels not categorized as ‘ocean-going vessels’ for training of seafarers
By Francis Ugwoke
In honour of the former Chairman of Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin, who passed on recently, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday said it has named one of its newly acquired vessels after the octogenarian.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, disclosed this on the occasion of the colloquium organized by Media Friends of Otunba Folarin and the NPCC in Rock View Hotel, Lagos.
Jamoh explained that this was to appreciate all the selfless contributions of late Otunba to the maritime industry.
He said that the two vessels will be arriving Nigerian waters in the next few weeks.
He described late Otunba as an encyclopedia as far as maritime is concerned, adding that he was always ready to offer himself to resolve issues in the industry.
While responding to inquiries on the disbursement of the CVFF as soon as possible, the NIMASA DG said all stakeholders will be carried along in the whole process.
For instance, he said that the first meeting will be with banks in the next one week after which there will be stakeholders meeting.
He explained that the stakeholders meeting would be to finalize guidelines to be used in disbursing the fund.
According to him, there will be a public hearing on the review of the Cabotage Act which has passed through the House of Representatives Committee and now going to the Senate.
The Chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho who also chaired the occasion commended organizers of the event in honour of Otunba for the topic chosen for the colloquium, adding that it brought an update on the disbursement of CVFF.
Iheanacho pointed out that emphasis on how the CVFF will be utilized may affect plans on training of seafarers for seatime on such vessels if such vessels are not categorized as ‘ocean-going vessels’.
According to him, CVFF should be changed to ‘Ship Acquisition and Ship Building Fund’ as was the case before so that beneficiaries can fund acquisition of ocean going vessels.
Iheanacho who described Otunba as an astute maritime professional wondered who would fill the shoes he has left behind.
Maritime and energy expert, Dr. Chris Asoluka joined others in called for the removal of waiver clauses in the Cabotage Act, describing it as creating opportunities for foreign vessels.
According to him, this has stifled indigenous shipping in the country.
He argued, “Foreigners are excused to use vessels not owned by Nigerians, not built or crewed by Nigerians. This was a mistake we made with the Cabotage Act because we thought at that time Nigeria hadn’t grown to the stage where it could handle Cabotage trade in compliance to the requisite standards.
“We should have inserted a caveat or timeline to give waivers to foreign vessels for five years while growing indigenous capacity for the service. However, twenty years after the Cabotage Act was passed, the Transport Minister still has the powers to give waivers to foreign operators.”
In her presentation, Mrs. Jean-Chiazor Anishere, SAN, called for a clear financing mechanism and clear reporting system on the CVFF utilization.
She called on NIMASA to monitor and evaluate the impact of the fund with the Primary Lending Institutions and other shipping experts.
Anishere stressing the need for clear guidelines on CVFF disbursement also commended the Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo the moves he has made to ensure disbursement of CVFF.
The colloquium was well attended by industry stakeholders, including the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapomo; President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung; Chairman, Sea Transport Limited, Mr. Aminu Umar; former Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mrs. Ify Akenrele; Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi.
*As DG promises stakeholders engagement on CVFF disbursement
* Iheanacho cautions if CVFF vessels not categorized as ‘ocean-going vessels’ for training of seafarers
By Francis Ugwoke
In honour of the former Chairman of Nigerian Ports Consultative Council (NPCC), Otunba Kunle Folarin, who passed on recently, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Thursday said it has named one of its newly acquired vessels after the octogenarian.
Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, OFR, disclosed this on the occasion of the colloquium organized by Media Friends of Otunba Folarin and the NPCC in Rock View Hotel, Lagos.
Jamoh explained that this was to appreciate all the selfless contributions of late Otunba to the maritime industry.
He said that the two vessels will be arriving Nigerian waters in the next few weeks.
He described late Otunba as an encyclopedia as far as maritime is concerned, adding that he was always ready to offer himself to resolve issues in the industry.
While responding to inquiries on the disbursement of the CVFF as soon as possible, the NIMASA DG said all stakeholders will be carried along in the whole process.
For instance, he said that the first meeting will be with banks in the next one week after which there will be stakeholders meeting.
He explained that the stakeholders meeting would be to finalize guidelines to be used in disbursing the fund.
According to him, there will be a public hearing on the review of the Cabotage Act which has passed through the House of Representatives Committee and now going to the Senate.
The Chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho who also chaired the occasion commended organizers of the event in honour of Otunba for the topic chosen for the colloquium, adding that it brought an update on the disbursement of CVFF.
Iheanacho pointed out that emphasis on how the CVFF will be utilized may affect plans on training of seafarers for seatime on such vessels if such vessels are not categorized as ‘ocean-going vessels’.
According to him, CVFF should be changed to ‘Ship Acquisition and Ship Building Fund’ as was the case before so that beneficiaries can fund acquisition of ocean going vessels.
Iheanacho who described Otunba as an astute maritime professional wondered who would fill the shoes he has left behind.
Maritime and energy expert, Dr. Chris Asoluka joined others in called for the removal of waiver clauses in the Cabotage Act, describing it as creating opportunities for foreign vessels.
According to him, this has stifled indigenous shipping in the country.
He argued, “Foreigners are excused to use vessels not owned by Nigerians, not built or crewed by Nigerians. This was a mistake we made with the Cabotage Act because we thought at that time Nigeria hadn’t grown to the stage where it could handle Cabotage trade in compliance to the requisite standards.
“We should have inserted a caveat or timeline to give waivers to foreign vessels for five years while growing indigenous capacity for the service. However, twenty years after the Cabotage Act was passed, the Transport Minister still has the powers to give waivers to foreign operators.”
In her presentation, Mrs. Jean-Chiazor Anishere, SAN, called for a clear financing mechanism and clear reporting system on the CVFF utilization.
She called on NIMASA to monitor and evaluate the impact of the fund with the Primary Lending Institutions and other shipping experts.
Anishere stressing the need for clear guidelines on CVFF disbursement also commended the Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Mu’azu Jaji Sambo the moves he has made to ensure disbursement of CVFF.
The colloquium was well attended by industry stakeholders, including the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA), Chief Isaac Jolapomo; President, Ship Owners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Dr. Mkgeorge Onyung; Chairman, Sea Transport Limited, Mr. Aminu Umar; former Director General, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS), Mrs. Ify Akenrele; Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO), Chief Remi Ogungbemi.
FOLLOW US
About Post Author
