By Hauwa Ali
The Director General (DG) of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Bashir Jamoh has disclosed plans to lead a delegation of the Federal government to visit the Kenyan Shipyards Limited (KSL), a state-owned corporation in Kenya which builds and maintains vessels for operations on Lake Victoria.
Jamoh disclosed this while speaking on a Live program on Inspiration 92.3Fm Lagos, recently.
According to him, the planned visit was aimed at fostering a cordial relationship to create an alternative solution for Nigerian shipowners and operators on aquiring vessels.
The NIMASA boss disclosed that the Minister of Transportation has agreed that some of the Ministry officials will travel to Kenya this month because the biggest ship building Industry DAMEN Shipbuilding Company are building a ship yard in Kenya that will address the kind of issues Nigeria is facing.
“So, they ( Ministry) want us to go and see the kind of shipyard they (DAMEN) are building for the Kenyan Government. If we see it and it is in line with our thoughts, then we would now come and replicate same here”, Jamoh said.
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He said Nigerian indigenous Shipowners would be part of the trip and decisions taken would be consensual. He insisted stakeholders would be part of the plan.
“But what I am telling you is just a proposal, the stakeholders will be carried along and they will be able to see what we are doing and everything will be transparent “.Jamoh said.
KSL is said to have the capacity to handle vessels of more than 4,000 tonnes and 150 metres in length. It has four main workshops – an electronic repair workshop, a marine and general engineering workshop, a fitting and carpentry workshop and a hull and superstructure repair workshop, together with trained teams of specialised workers.
While addressing the matter of the Cabotage Vessels Financing Fund (CVFF), Jamoh said nine banks have been listed for the disbursement of funds by the Governing Board of NIMASA, whose details have been forwarded to the Minister of Transportation.
The Agency, he said, is trying to avoid the previous pitfalls experienced under the Ship Building and Acquisition Fund when beneficiaries diverted the funds to purposes other than the reasons they were meant.
The DG disclosed that NIMASA has undertaken research into the type of vessels or boats needed for inland waterways. “The issue of these small craft having constant accidents is giving us worries,” he said.
