Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency ,NIMASA, has engaged the service of two leading debt recovery companies to assist the agency in the collection of the debts owed by some shipping companies and other operators in the maritime industry.
The affected shipping companies, it was learnt, have failed to remit the statutory three per cent levies, 2% cabotage surcharge, as well as offshore waste and sea protection levies to the Federal Government
The engagement of the two leading debt recovery companies was disclosed in Lagos, yesterday, by its Director-General, Dr Dayo Mobereola at the Interactive Session organised by the agency for maritime reporters in the country.
Although the Director-General did not disclose the names of the two engaged companies, he however, acknowledged that the agency has embarked on a debt recovery measure aimed at collecting all the money belonging to NIMASA from its debtors.
“When we came on board, we were told that the shipping companies are owing us so much and we have to start collection. As we speak today, we have engaged two companies to look into it and collect this debt for NIMASA and for the benefit of the nation”, the DG said.
The shipping firms, it was learnt, have accumulated substantial debts to the Federal Government through NIMASA, hence the current debt recovery steps taken by the agency.
The Director-General also disclosed that the agency is working tirelessly to assist the indigenous ship owners to acquire vessels that will fly Nigerian flag through meticulous disbursement of the Sabotage Vessels Finance Fund ,CVFF, to provide jobs and boost the nation’s economy.
He added that the agency is also priotising the full automation of the Nigerian ship registry for proper revenue generation.
The DG, however, said the war risk premium imposed on ships coming into the country persists based on the influence of a cartel within the intern national insurance companies.
Although he did not disclose the identities of members of the cartel, Mobereola said despite significant improvements in maritime security, the premium continues to add to the cost of cargoes coming to the country.
He stressed that the development underlines the need for a coordinated international effort and the need for Nigeria to collaborate with global maritime organisations to tackle the entrenched interest that sustains the war risk premium on cargos coming to the country.
“In all honesty, Nigeria alone cannot do it. We need the international maritime organizations to be with us”, he stated, pointing out that the war risk premium is not determined by the actual risk level but by a cartel profiting from the status quo.
“Despite Nigeria’s concerted efforts to curb piracy and enhance maritime security, the war risk premium has not seen a corresponding decrease.
“Even if we have zero piracy and no security incidents for the next ten years, if we don’t force the issue, they will continue to charge us”, he said.
