An important step in Nigeria’s ambitions to grow its maritime sector has been taken with the Federal Government of Nigeria accrediting 27 domestic shipyards. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) announced the accreditation, which is anticipated to increase local shipbuilding and repair capabilities and encourage indigenous involvement in the maritime industry. 00:12/10/03:11/10 seconds To make sure they fulfilled the necessary requirements for shipbuilding and repair, the licensed shipyards went through a thorough evaluation process.The shipyards’ participation in the building and maintenance of vessels, including those used for cabotage trade, would be made possible by the accreditation. Nigeria’s marine sector, which has been dominated by foreign companies, is expected to benefit greatly from the development. It is anticipated that the accreditation will boost economic growth in the industry and generate job opportunities. One of these measures is the 2003-enacted Combatant Act. The Act offers incentives to native shipowners and shipbuilders and reserves domestic coastal traffic for vessels owned and flagged by Nigerians. The accreditation is in line with its mandate, which is outlined in Section 22 of the NIMASA Act, 2007 and Sections 335–339 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 2007, which give the Agency statutory powers to regulate, license, inspect, and enforce standards for shipyard operations in Nigeria, according to a statement released on Sunday by Osagie Edward, Head, Public Relations at NIMASA.
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