Rotimi Amaechi, Transportation Minister, on Monday, promised to make a case for Nigerian ship-owners to be involved in the lucrative business of lifting crude oil.
Amaechi stated this at a stakeholders meeting put together by his ministry in Lagos following complaints of foreign domination of the nation’s maritime industry and non-implementation of the Coastal and Inland Shipping Act (Cabotage Law).
He promised to present a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari after conferring with the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu
Amaechi said he needs to be convinced that Nigerian Ship-owners have the capacity to compete with their foreign counterparts in the areas of vessel quality and standards.
According to him, “I need to be sure that we have the capacity to lift crude and I know the Minister of State for petroleum will not be opposed to it.”
Amaechi also disclosed that the Federal Government is not disposed to funding a new national carrier in the maritime industry.
