NIMASA DG, Mobereola, Faults Original Plan for Agency’s N50bn Floating Dock, Reveals Fresh Plans
DG, NIMASA
By Francis Ugwoke
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Administration (NIMASA), Dr. Dayo Mobereola, on Monday faulted the original plan for the modular floating dock acquired some years ago by the apex maritime agency.
Mobereola told newsmen at a media briefing that the original plan was not right for the floating dock.
He however assured that the agency is currently working on putting the modular floating dock into very good use.
He said that once it is in use, it will be beneficial to the economy, seafarers and the agency.
He said, “We need to put the modular floating dock into use as soon as possible for it to generate revenue for the country, to help develop our cadets, to help earn revenue and employment for the maritime sector. We need to do it right”.
The DG disclosed that the management team visited the site of the floating dock last week at the Continental Shipyard, Apapa, as part of the efforts to put the facility into good use.
Indications are that the floating dock may be relocated where it is appropriate.
On the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF), the DG said the fund remains intact with the federal government.
He disclosed that based on the experience of the past when such fund failed with many beneficiaries not paying back what was given to them, the agency is looking at ways of fine-tuning the disbursement.
According to him, a new process is being considered for the best use of the fund.
He said, “The CVFF is with the federal government and it is for the use of shipowners. It has not been touched, it is not a revenue, it is a contribution towards the development of the Nigerian shipping industry and shipowners.
“That is recognised and that is what it is going to be used for as long as we come back with the fine-tuned guidelines on how to use it which we have been working on with my Executive Directors day in day out.
“We are also exploring other avenues to ensure that this CVFF is not just CVFF but enlarged in such a way that we can even leverage on it”.
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