The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh said that his administration’s policies are tailored to complement efforts of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to grow the Nigerian economy through the oil and gas sector.
The NIMASA DG, who was represented by the Director of Cabotage Services, Mrs. Rita Uruakpa at the 2023 Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, urged stakeholders to consider a change of trade terms in the oil and gas sector from the Free on Board to the Cost, Insurance and Freight model.
According to Jamoh, the efforts of the NCDMB at helping in the development of the indigenous maritime sector had not gone unnoticed. He said: “We appreciate the efforts of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board at growing the indigenous maritime sector, such as the proposed Brass Shipyard. We at NIMASA will continue to strive for the development of our maritime sector by pursuing policies that will ensure the indigenous capacity is grown, which in turn will impact on our fleet expansion to position them to be able to participate in the affreightment of the products”.
On opportunities for indigenous businesses in maritime, the DG said: “I want to reiterate that we must also create a suitable and sustainable business and investment environment that will afford indigenous operators’ opportunities to participate in the oil and gas industry with a view to accelerating Nigeria’s income for the oil industry which in turn will impact our GDP”.
NCDMB’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Simbi Wabote charged firms operating in the sector to prepare themselves adequately, restating that the oil and gas industry is highly technical and does not compromise safety and standards.
“If someone gives you projects he intends to execute in the next two years; Nigerian companies, having listened to the opportunities, should go back and continue to build their capacities in readiness to actively participate”, he said.
He also challenged relevant agencies to address the worrisome security challenges, particularly oil theft in the Niger Delta, as this would enable the production of hydrocarbons at reasonable costs and profitability.
