OGHARA (DELTA STATE) – Mr Ibikunle Olayiwola, Central Zonal Coordinator, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Warri, has warned terminal operators and shipping companies in the zone against non-remittance of maritime dues.
Olayiwola gave the warning during his maiden visit to NIMASA in Oghara, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta, on Saturday.
He said any maritime operator that failed to remit such dues and levies promptly to the agency would be sanctioned henceforth.
The coordinator urged the operators to cooperate with NIMASA, with a view to building a healthier maritime sector.
“NIMASA will not tolerate non-compliance with rules on payment of statutory dues and levies by terminal operators and shipping companies within the zone.
“I also want the terminal operators to cooperate with NIMASA to enhance smooth operations on the waterways”, he said.
Responding, Mr Bode Ibisanmi, Depot Manager, Nepal Oil and Gas Services Ltd, Oghara, thanked the NIMASA for the visit.
Ibisanmi said the visit had enabled the company to be aware of its responsibilities and promised that it would carry them out.
“I now know those things required of us, especially as it concerns the remittance of levies and dues as required by law. We will abide by it”, he said.
Earlier, Mr Ali Alpha, Head of Cabotage, Central Zone of NIMASA, enlightened the management of Nepal Oil and Gas on what cabotage entailed.
According to him, cabotage is a shipping term used to refer to the domestic carriage of cargoes or passengers within the nation’s territorial waters.
Alpha said that cabotage law stipulates that vessels plying Nigerian territorial water must be designed, owned and manned or crewed by Nigerians and registered in Nigeria. (NAN)
Olayiwola, who also visited NIMASA in Sapele, had in November, visited the Nigeria Navy Ship (NNS), and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Warri.
He had also visited the Maritime University and the Ship Yard in Okerenkoko/Oporoza, Warri South-West Local Government Area of the state.