The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has declared that between January and June, total cargo throughput was 96,626,737.96 metric tonnes, representing an increase of 31.24 per cent from 73,628,546.62MT recorded in the corresponding period of 2017.
The Director General, NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, made this declaration in Lagos on Wednesday during an interactive session with the media.
Peterside attributed the increase to freight rates benchmark which was reviewed for three per cent levy billing to reflect prevailing realities in shipping, based on the request of operators.
He added that the new benchmark had succeeded in fostering harmonious regulator-operator relationship and brought about positive trends in the industry leading to more patronage.
The NIMASA DG who was giving account of the activities of the agency in the past six months said that it had started actualising its mandate by putting together a Strategic Implementation Plan in alignment with the programme of the Federal Government, aimed at putting the agency on a path of sustainable growth to impact the maritime industry as well as promote and ensure overall development of the sector.
Peterside explained that during the period under review, there was an increase in indigenous participation in Cabotage vessels manning, ownership building and registration as a result of zero tolerance on granting waivers.
He added, “We have also witnessed an increase in total number of wholly Nigerian-owned vessels on the Nigerian Cabotagae register. Half year result shows 125 vessels were registered representing a 33 per cent increase when compared with the 94 registered in the corresponding period of 2017.
