The federal government may have succumbed to the clamour by shipping operators for the resuscitation of the national carrier, the Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL).
Addressing a gathering of national and international maritime experts and stakeholders attending a national workshop on Public Private Partnership Strategy for Infrastructural Development and Modernization in the Nigerian Maritime Sector, director-general of the National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Patrick ZiakedeAkpobolekemi,hinted that the federal government has begun moves to refloat the national career under the public private sector cooperation arrangement.
The workshop was by NIMASA in collaboration with Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). He said government intends to work with the private sector on the project. “We want our national carrier back. We’ll pursue that. It can be done and it must be done,” he said, pointing out that the defunct NNSL died because it was managed and controlled by government.
“The NNSL collapsed because government could not manage it. In the next six months, we’ll work seriously towards it,” saying that President Goodluck Jonathan wants the national carrier brought back during his regime. “There is no room for failure. We can’t afford to disappoint Nigerians,” Akpobolekemi assured.
“It is a huge economic waste that most of our hydrocarbon is being transported by people other than Nigerians and I don’t think the agency can have the patience or keep waiting; drastic measures must be taken,” he added.
The Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) was established in 1959. Due to mismanagement, government interference and corruption, the shipping line collapsed despite the heavy investments and subsidies. It was reported that much of the investment went to enriching the ruling class.
The national carrier was eventually liquidated in 1995 by the military junta, Gen. SanniAbacha, and all its 21 vessels sold while some were confiscated by foreign creditors.
Source: Blueprint
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