NPERA Reassures Maritime Stakeholders Say ‘We are not here to Over-regulate, it Stiffles Growth’
Nigerian Shippers Council headquarters, Apapa Lagos
Adaora Nwonu
We are going to set guidelines to ensure that investors have the confidence to come to our country to invest, knowing well that they would get return on their investment. We are also going to ensure that the federal government’s 1.3trillion by 2030 is actualized, knowing well that the maritime sector is capable of contributing to that target.
Therefore, we are fully committed to innovative ideas like these because we need to build the marine and blue economy.
We keep talking about the huge potentials in the sector, but when is the time to harness it? I think this is the time and BEAP would be a driver.
As NPERA, we are fully committed to this sector, we are not here to over-regulate because sometimes, over-regulation sniffles growth, economy, innovation and creativity, that is not what we are to do, we are here to ensure that we all grow. But then again, there has to be fairness, transparency in what we do, the rule has to be set so that the investors can also have the courage to come here and invest.
We have identified that for us to achieve the target we have set for ourselves as enshrined in the national policy for blue economy, the BEAP is a contributor, and NIMASA can count on our support.
You can count on our support to ensure that the rules, the tariffs and the environment is as fair and transparent, that the environment is continued to be enabling because we need that enabling environment, otherwise we cannot thrive, and thats why we believe that when we support ,more business would come and that means economic prosperity for us all.
Aminu Umar is the founder and CEO of Sea Transport Services Nigeria Limited. He is also the President Nigerian Chamber of Shipping (NCS)
The next generation needs to invest and look into data management, in our industry, our of the things we missed is the use of data, there is need for us to look into it. Many years ago, our company use to produce what is called tanker berthing positions, back then, our principals then always request for data, there was nowhere in Nigeria that you can get which ship is where, what is it doing ,which ships are line up, when did it arrive and so on, so we invested time and resources to create this document and it became a document that international oil companies seat with in order to hold their meetings every morning, if by 9am they dont have it, they would start making calls and requesting for the tanker Berthing. But today, a lot of people are now doing it.
For decision making, you need to have data that can guide you on what is happening in the srctor, and look at the trend, and based on that you can take informed decisions, this is not there up till today, and many of us have left it for the next generation.
So the NIMASA Hackathon should be able to cover this aspect, and we don’t mind to invest in it.
Another one is decabonisation, everywhere in the world it is being talked about, and we need to become fully part of it.
