$350m CVFF Rat Race: Maritime Editors Tasks Tinubu to Disburse Controversial Ship Financing Fund
From Right: Compt Dera Nnadi, Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Dr Charles Okoroefe and Compt Ben Oramalugo at LOME 25th Year Anniversary in Lagos
…Stakeholders Urge Blue Economy Minister, Oyetola to Strategize with other Ministries
By DAPO OLAWUNI
The League of Maritime Editors (LOME) has called on President Bola Tinubu to disburse the over $350 million Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) to indigenous ship owners and to grow local capacity building in the country.
The President of LOME, Chief Timothy Okorocha made the call on the occasion of the League’s Silver Jubilee with the theme: “Harnessing Nigeria’s Potential In Marine and Blue Economy/The New Customs Act And Its Implication On Trade,” held in Lagos.
In his welcome address, Okorocha urged President Bola Tinubu to provide the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola and his ministry, the needed impetus to bring to an end, the unending rat race of the disbursement of the CVFF, established in 2003; to jump start a new lease of life for the capacity development of the indigenous ship owners and to enable Nigeria participate meaningfully in the nation’s seaborne trade; especially with the proposed commencement of the implementation policy of the blue economy.
According to him, as insiders, the League over the years has seen the genuine struggle by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and its leadership, especially under the present administration to disburse the CVFF in its commitment to grow local capacity building, but observe the otherwise disruptive tendencies within the field of political play.
“We appeal to Mr. President to use his good office to prevail on the relevant authorities to respond to the needs of our industry as their can be no better time than now. We also salute Mr. President’s bold steps and visionary outlook and do hereby with utmost respect urge to ezcercise the required political will to push farther by ensuring that the oft routine talk about the rehabilitation of collapsed critical port infrastructure receives urgent executive attention.
“As development partners, the League looks forward to the effective participation of the respective agencies in the current administration’s renewed agenda template; and want to see the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) move away from the ritual of endless talk and lamentable into doing the needful, the reconstruction of broken down asset and infrastructure,” he added.
Also speaking at the function, a maritime expert, Dr Charles Okoroefe who is also a lecturer at Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN Oron) urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to synergize with Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Power and Ministry of Tourism in order to realise the potentials of his new ministry.
Okoroefe while delivering a lecture, said Nigeria is still very far behind in aspect of marine tourism, deepsea mining, renewable energy, among others.
According to him, all of these areas are potentials of the blue economy for job creation, but yet, a lot of Nigerian youths are unemployed.
“How prepared are we to go extra mile to get these things in place so that Nigeria can record her name among countries that have developed echo tourism?
“The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has to liase with Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Power, and the Ministry of Tourism for it to succeed in harnessing ocean resources, they cannot do it alone.
“The parastatals under the Ministry has to be put on their toes because a lot is on the table to offer” he said
The Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi who was represented by Tin Can Island Port Area Controller, Compt Dera Nnadi spoke on the new Customs Act Aand its implication on trade.
He said “The recent enactment of the Customs Act 2023 brings with it a new focus on trade facilitation particularly in the maritime sector, and addresses emerging challenges in international trade, ensuring better enforcement, regulation and compliance”
Nnadi went ahead to breakdown some of the new provisions of the Act in sections, especially as it affects modern trade.
According to him, “The new law introduces tariff incentives for businesses engaging in environmental friendly practices within the blue economy. This encourages the adoption of sustainable fishing methods, responsible acqua culture and friendly shipping practices which is the bane of international trade. It enhances surveillance of Maritime activities.
“The new face of Customs is one where technology is used to address issues of international trade and border management. This is going to form the theme of the CG Conference holding in Lagos next week”
On his part, a freight forwarder and President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON) Otunba Frank Ogunojemite lamented the challenges faced by operators at Nigerian ports due to neglect by the Federal Government.
Ogunojemite revealed that for more than one week now, cargoes could not exit the port due to epileptic server of the Nigeria Customs Service. He said that importers and freight forwarders are being made to pay huge demurrage for the inadequacies of the government through its technical partners; Webb Fontaine.
“For the past one week, we have been having issues of server failure at the port due to incompetence of Webb Fontaine, the service provider” he cried out
Meanwhile, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola who was represented Director, Press and Public Relations, Olujimi Oyetomi described the theme for the League’s Silver Jubilee Anniversary: “Harnessing Nigeria’s Potential in Marine and Blue Economy/The New Customs 2023 Act And its implication on Trade’ as apt, because it will afford opportunity to examine the contributions of the Marine and Blue Economy Sector to trade, commercial development and growth of the nation’s economy.
“This is also the basis of the ministerial deliverables given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to me and my ministry. We have since taken steps to involve all the agencies under the Ministry to key into this mandate. I must admit that my Ministry has been enjoying a symbiotic relationship with the Maritime Editors with agenda-setting for the maritime sector of which my Ministry is the leading Policy making body.
“I wish to add that most of the suggestions of the Maritime Editors are received in good faith by the management of the Ministry of which I am a principal figure.
“Even though I am a pioneer minister specifically for the Sector, I have set up machineries and structures for the sector and made all principal actors and agencies to irrevocably key into realizing the potentials of the sector with regards to job creation, social development, increased contributions to national growth and economic development.
“I have given my commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the nation that the Marine and Blue Economy Sector will witness a rapid transformation within the shortest possible time. On your suggestions and recommendations when you evaluated the industry, we at the policy making level, sometimes see them in critical perspectives.
The LOME event was graced by maritime industry bigwigs including Prince Olayiwola Shittu, Vice President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) Prince Segun Oduntan, Customs Compt Oramalugo, Controller of customs FOU Zone A, Kehinde Ejibunu, among others.
