The creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has put the focus of the international maritime community on Nigeria as it attempts to realize the vast potentials inherent in the marine environment.
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who stated this during a courtesy visit by the new Managing Director of the NNPC Shipping Ltd, Mr. Panos Gliatis, noted that some international financial institutions are interested in investing in Nigeria through the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund.
According to NIMASA’s Assistant Director, Public Relations Osagie Edward, in a statement Thursday, Mr. Gliatis was accompanied by a delegation from the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping to NIMASA,
Jamoh said, “The creation of the standalone Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has put the spotlight on the Nigerian maritime industry as the international community now sees the commitment of the Federal Government through this new Ministry to develop economically, away from the long-standing reliance on crude oil exports. Right now, the Afreximbank, African Development Bank and American Express Bank have all indicated intent to support the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund, CVFF.
On CVFF disbursement, the NIMASA DG said, “we have gone far, the disagreement was when the PLIs were insisting that the interest rate must be 7.5 percent, while NIMASA and NNPC Shipping Limited say it should be 6.5percent.”
On his part, President of Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, Alhaji Aminu Umar expressed much satisfaction at the collaboration between NNPC Shipping and indigenous ship owners.
He said “We have come to inform NIMASA, as our regulator, that we have entered into partnership with NNPC Shipping Ltd. They have come with open arms to partner the Nigerian ship owners, under the auspices of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping.”
The Managing Director of NNPC Shipping Limited, Mr Panos Gliatis, assured that under his watch, the previous discussions and agreements between NIMASA and the NNPC Shipping Limited would be expedited for action.
