The president of the association, Chief Isaac Jolapamo, said that the collaboration was aimed at boosting the country’s economy.
He commended the Federal Government for granting lifting right of 60 per cent to the Nigerian oil traders in 2014 and 2015 which would commence on June 1.
“It is also gratifying to note that part of the conditions to grant the right to lift the Nigerian Crude oil to the traders is that they must work with Nigerian ship owners.
“ This is in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry content development Act, 2010, particularly, the schedule on shipping, and fits roundly into the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration.
“This is what our association, NISA, has always stood and advocated for all these years.
“ Nigerian oil traders that were granted the lifting right to the best of our knowledge have not complied with the condition concerning the engagement of the Nigerian Shipping companies.
“As far as our association knows, no Nigerian Shipping company has been engaged,” Jolapamo said.
He urged the Federal Government to review the list of the successful oil traders and publish their names.
Jolapamo said that government should also ensure that whoever was lifting the crude oil should lift with Nigerian shipping companies.
He said that NISA, established in 2008 and registered by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has shipping line.
Also speaking, the General Secretary of the Association, Capt. Niyi Labinjo (rtd.), said successive governments in the country had been making efforts at involving Nigerian ship owners in lifting the nation crude oil.
“The Nigerian Content Development Act had spelt it out that Nigerian must provide VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) up till 90 per cent; it is there in the law.
“NIMASA act also specifies that 50 per cent of government shipment will be done by Nigerians.
“As a matter of fact, successive governments have been trying to make sure that they bring in Nigerian ship owners to carry the Nigerian crude.
“Shipping is unlike any other business in the sense that you don’t ask me to go and bring a ship and tie the ship down before you will give me the contract.
“That is not the way shipping business is done.
“Shipping business is done by you (trader) specifying the kind of ship you want and the ship owner goes to acquire it.
“I buy the ship and my bankers know that you are the one using the ship they will pay and what have I got; I have acquired capacity,“ Labinjo said.
He also said that Nigerians did not lack capacity to buy ships and operate them. (NAN)