The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, has intensified efforts to enforce Nigeria’s Cabotage regulations and increase indigenous participation in coastal and inland shipping.
The agency said the move is part of its statutory duty to enforce key maritime laws, including the NIMASA Act 2007 and the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act 2003, alongside existing Cabotage regulations and implementation guidelines.
In a marine notice, NIMASA directed individuals and organisations planning to use vessels for Cabotage operations to ensure they meet Nigeria’s requirements covering ownership, registration, manning and construction.
The agency also emphasised that vessels and ship-owning companies involved in Cabotage activities must be registered in the special register created for vessels and companies operating within the sector.
According to a statement by NIMASA Deputy Director and Head of Public Relations, Edward Osagie, all vessels, owners, operators, charterers, managers and other stakeholders involved in Cabotage trade must have valid statutory certificates, licences, registrations and other required documents.
NIMASA stated that, where applicable, Cabotage vessels are expected to be wholly owned by Nigerian citizens, properly registered in the relevant special register, crewed by Nigerians and constructed in Nigeria.
However, the agency noted that vessels that do not meet these requirements may only be allowed to operate where the required Nigerian capacity is unavailable and the relevant legal conditions have been established and verified by NIMASA.
The agency said it would continue monitoring compliance with the Cabotage Act, regulations and guidelines to strengthen maritime governance and ensure employment opportunities reserved for Nigerians are not given to foreign interests.
