By Steve Agbota
League of Maritime Editors (LOME) has called on the Federal Government to disburse 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.
However, he 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 rate 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.
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 this august gathering the 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.