National shipping line saga plays on
Nigeria considers options to re-establish national shipping line
NIGERIA: Despite announced plans to re-establish the liquidated Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL), issues relating to resolving the settlement of benefits to the affected seafarers.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) have begun discussions on how to address the issue terminal benefits of Seafarers whose appointments were terminated due to the liquidation of the defunct Nigerian National Shipping Line.
The Director General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh OFR, and the Vice President of the Nigerian Labour Congress who is also the President General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, jointly announced an agreement for physical verification of the affected seafarers/next of kin as the case may apply, the nature of appointment of all affected seafarers, and the exact amount due each beneficiary.
The NIMASA DG also assured the Union that their position will be communicated to the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, to ensure Government takes all necessary actions to bring to a conclusion, the issue of NNSL.
“NIMASA had offered 100 million naira as settlement, which the Union declined. We have also discovered that some of those demanding settlement did not even have any employment letter. We will follow the lead from our supervising Ministry and ensure the physical verification exercise is brought to a logical conclusion.”
“NIMASA had offered 100 million naira as settlement, which the Union declined. We have also discovered that some of those demanding settlement did not even have any employment letter. We will follow the lead from our supervising Ministry and ensure the physical verification exercise is brought to a logical conclusion,” noted Jamoh.
“Yes, NIMASA offered 100 million naira to offset the terminal benefits. However, if others like Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council and the rest also add funds, there will be enough to go round the expected beneficiaries. As we did for dockworkers when a flat rate of two hundred thousand was paid during port concession; that is what we want, putting into consideration the realities on ground now,” said Adeyanju.
Re-establishing the shipping line
In November, however, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria is set to re-establish a National Shipping Line.
Oyetola was speaking at a Stakeholders Roundtable discussion on Advancing Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos where he explained that the shipping line would operate as a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
According to the minister, PPP models will help drive the development of the maritime sector of Nigeria’s economy.
“Let me add that the ministry’s decision to consider the re-establishment of a National Shipping Line, through a strategic PPP arrangement, is borne out of our desire to capture a substantial share of the estimated $10 billion annual ship charter market within the country,” he said.
“I believe we can transform this sector through the innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models that the ministry has embraced.”
“I believe we can transform this sector through the innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models that the ministry has embraced. This model, a collaborative synergy between the private sector’s efficiency and the public sector’s oversight, is set to bring about transformative impact on the marine and blue economy.”
Oyetola anticipates that the initiative to re-establish the shipping line will create substantial employment opportunities as well as facilitate increased trade and investment.
PHOTO: Roundtable discussion Advancing Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Marine and Blue Economy in Lagos.
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