BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has intensified enforcement of statutory requirements governing indigenous participation in Nigeria’s Cabotage trade and maritime activities.

The development is contained in a Marine Notice issued by the Agency in line with its statutory mandate to enforce applicable maritime laws, including the NIMASA Act 2007, the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, as well as relevant regulations and implementation guidelines.

Under the new enforcement regime, individuals, companies and organisations requiring vessels for Cabotage operations are expected to engage only vessels that meet Nigeria’s statutory requirements on ownership, registration, manning and construction.

Such vessels must also be duly entered in the Special Register for Vessels and Ship Owning Companies Engaged in Cabotage.

NIMASA further directed vessel owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders involved in Cabotage operations to ensure that all statutory certificates, licences, registrations and other mandatory documentation remain valid and up to date.

The Cabotage framework requires, where applicable, vessels engaged in coastal trade to be wholly owned by Nigerian citizens, duly registered in the relevant Special Register, manned by Nigerian citizens and built in Nigeria.

However, foreign-owned or otherwise non-compliant vessels may be deployed where the required Nigerian capacity is unavailable, subject to the applicable statutory conditions being established and verified by NIMASA.

The Agency said it would continue to intensify monitoring and enforcement of the Cabotage Act, its regulations and implementation guidelines to strengthen maritime governance and protect opportunities and employment reserved for Nigerians.

NIMASA said the move was also aimed at deepening indigenous participation, building local shipping capacity and ensuring that Cabotage operations contribute more meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development.

The Marine Notice takes immediate effect, with the Agency urging all stakeholders to ensure full compliance with the prescribed requirements.

NIMASA warned that failure to comply with the applicable provisions would attract appropriate regulatory sanctions in accordance with the law.