MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, ROTIMI AMAECHI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NIKORMA, NNPC, MOHAMMED KABIRU, OTHERS APPEAR BEFORE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NIGERIAN CONTENT DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING

The Minister of Transport Rotimi Amaechi today appeared before the Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring in the House of Representatives chaired by Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo in continuation of the investigative hearing on the alleged breach of the Local Content and Cabotage Acts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC. The petition was brought to the Committee by the Ship Owners Association of Nigeria SOAN.

Also appearing were the Group Managing Director GMD of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Mele Kyari who was represented by the Group Executive Director, Gas & Power, (MD, NIKORMA) (Shipping) AbdulKabir M. Ahmed, Group Executive Director, Downstream NNPC, Adeyemi Adetunji, Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services NIMASA, Rt. Hon. Engr. Victor Onyekachi Ochei.

Speaking, the Executive Director, Maritime Labour & Cabotage Services NIMASA, Rt. Hon. Engr. Victor Onyekachi Ochei said the agency processes waivers,  which final approvals are given by the Ministry of transport, for foreign flagged ships in circumstances where the services required within the Nigerian waters are not provided by Nigerian flagged ships.

The Chairman, Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo reiterated his earlier position that the Local Content and the Cabotage Acts must be obeyed at all times and Nigerian flagged ships with the required capacity must be engaged for Services in the Nigeria waters. He adjourned the hearing for one week.